The CEO of France’s large engineering group Bouygues voiced strong concern that Europe’s satellite and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is overly dependent on U.S. companies. He argued that Europe should review its reliance on U.S. satellite network services such as SpaceX’s Starlink, bringing Europe’s debate over digital sovereignty back into focus.

On May 21, CNBC reported that Bouygues CEO Olivier Roussat (올리비에 루사) said in an interview, “The areas where Europe must properly recognise the importance of the issue are AI and satellites.” He added, “Europe does not sufficiently realise how dangerous it is to rely too much on U.S. infrastructure.”

Roussat’s key point was control over connectivity infrastructure. He said Europe should not take for granted a structure that depends on U.S.-based satellite internet services such as Starlink. Roussat said, “It is not certain that services like Starlink are absolutely necessary,” and added, “Europe must have its own capabilities to secure a certain level of sovereignty.”

His remarks intersect with the reality of the satellite internet market. Starlink, a SpaceX unit, operates a low-Earth orbit constellation of about 10,000 satellites and holds what is effectively a dominant position in the global satellite internet market. The industry also says Starlink is becoming the standard for satellite internet infrastructure worldwide.

Roussat warned that this structure could go beyond technology dependence and lead to geopolitical and strategic risks. He argued that the situation itself is problematic because not only a specific country but also a single private company could determine the connectivity network of the European continent.

The comments also come as France’s telecom market shows signs of reshuffling. Bouygues joined a bid in April to acquire the largest stake in rival SFR. The deal is worth about 20.35 billion euros and is seen as one of the biggest telecom takeover contests in Europe in recent years.

The proposal also included the Iliad Group and Orange. SFR is France’s second-largest telecom operator. If the deal goes through, Bouygues Telecom would secure a 42 percent stake in SFR, and France’s telecom market could shift from a four-operator system to a three-operator system.

The market sees the moves as linked not only to a corporate takeover but also to efforts to restore profitability in Europe’s telecom industry and a trend toward integrating strategic infrastructure. Europe’s telecom market has seen profitability deteriorate over a long period due to excessive competition and pressure to cut prices.

Whether the acquisition goes ahead depends on an antitrust review by European Union competition authorities. A key variable is how far the European Commission will allow telecom market consolidation. Roussat expressed conditional optimism about the regulatory environment. He said, “The European Commission’s role is to set conditions that make fair competition possible,” adding, “I think that is sufficiently possible.”

The industry sees the remarks as highlighting Europe’s strategic concerns over who will control key digital infrastructure such as AI and satellite networks, beyond a simple telecom industry restructuring.

As reliance grows on Starlink and U.S. big tech-led AI infrastructure, there is also the possibility that Europe will strengthen moves to build its own satellite networks and AI ecosystem. Europe’s telecom regulation and industrial policy may increasingly develop in a direction that considers not only market competition but also securing digital sovereignty.