The chief executive of a prominent French engineering conglomerate has sounded a stark warning regarding Europe’s increasing reliance on U.S. digital infrastructure, particularly in the critical domains of artificial intelligence and satellite communications. Olivier Roussat, CEO of Bouygues, articulated concerns to CNBC that an overdependence on American-led systems, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, poses significant risks to European sovereignty and technological independence.
“Looking ahead, there are two crucial sectors where Europe must fully grasp their strategic importance: artificial intelligence and satellite technology,” Roussat stated in an interview. “Europe is not fully appreciating the profound danger of solely depending on American infrastructure.”
Bouygues, a diversified group with substantial interests in construction, transportation, and telecommunications, is actively involved in the ongoing consolidation efforts within the French telecom market. This sector has been characterized by fierce price competition, which has exerted considerable pressure on operator profitability. Roussat suggested that Europe might not necessarily need to adopt external solutions like Starlink, emphasizing the continent’s imperative to secure its own technological autonomy.
Starlink, a division of SpaceX, currently leads the global satellite internet market with an extensive constellation of approximately 10,000 satellites. The potential initial public offering of SpaceX, rumored to be one of the largest in history, underscores the immense commercial and strategic value attributed to space-based internet services.
Roussat’s apprehension stems from the potential vulnerability of European connectivity to decisions made by non-state actors. The ability of a single entity, such as Starlink, to potentially disrupt or control internet access across an entire continent presents a clear geopolitical and economic risk.
This strategic imperative for European independence in telecommunications is further highlighted by Bouygues’ recent bold move in the French market. In April, Bouygues launched a cash bid for a controlling stake in its rival operator SFR. This proposed transaction, with a total deal value of €20.35 billion ($23.6 billion), represents one of the most significant European telecom mergers in recent memory. If successful, in a joint bid with Free–iliad Group and Orange, Bouygues Telecom would acquire a 42% share in SFR, consolidating the French market from four major network operators down to three.
The path to this consolidation is subject to rigorous regulatory review. The bidders must secure approval from antitrust authorities, a process that will test the European Commission’s stance on fostering industry consolidation within a European telecommunications landscape that is already highly competitive. Roussat expressed optimism regarding this regulatory process, stating, “The objective for the European Commission is to establish conditions for fair competition among us, and I believe this is achievable.”
This strategic positioning by Bouygues reflects a broader European ambition to build robust domestic digital ecosystems, reducing reliance on foreign technology providers and ensuring greater control over critical infrastructure. The outcome of the SFR deal and the European Commission’s regulatory approach will be closely watched as indicators of the continent’s commitment to fostering its own technological future.
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