SpaceX Awarded Starlink Approval in France

SpaceX has deployed its Starlink low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet to several countries and users at this point, and the company isn’t showing any signs of stopping with a new country in Europe now gaining access to the service.

The French administrative court, the Conseil d’Etat, has awarded a 10-year license to SpaceX to operate Starlink in the country, according to a report from Space Intel (via @SawyerMerritt).

The news comes after SpaceX has been pursuing a France Starlink contract for well over a year, although some have cited risks of electromagnetism and high-voltage power lines to oppose the company’s move into the country.

Last year, users were able to perform internet speed tests of Starlink internet in France, finding faster speeds than what many service providers in the area offered on a consistent basis.

In February and March, France played a key role in funding donated Starlink hardware to Ukraine, along with Poland, amidst Russia’s invasion of the sovereign country.

Recently, SpaceX also gained approval to operate Starlink in Nigeria and Mozambique, in addition to the Philippines and Brazil in recent weeks, totalling around 37 countries with Starlink.

On Sunday, SpaceX said it had reached nearly 500,000 worldwide Starlink users.