According to DCD, French telecommunications giant Orange and European satellite operator Eutelsat have launched a new ground station in Lamentin, Martinique. The teleport features 14 antennas and serves as Eutelsat’s satellite gateway for the OneWeb constellation. This marks Eutelsat’s 40th ground station to go live globally. The facility specifically closes the final coverage gap over the Atlantic Ocean while providing high-speed connectivity options for Caribbean island communities. Orange built and operates the teleport on behalf of Eutelsat, with both companies emphasizing strengthened regional infrastructure. The announcement comes as Martinique prepares for another subsea cable landing in 2027.
Caribbean connectivity game changer
This isn’t just another ground station – it’s a strategic move that basically turns Martinique into a connectivity hub for the entire Caribbean. The island already hosts four subsea cables with another one coming in 2027. Now add satellite coverage into the mix? That’s some serious redundancy and resilience. For islands that frequently face natural disasters and connectivity challenges, having multiple pathways for data is literally game-changing.
The satellite ground station race heats up
Here’s the thing – everyone’s talking about the satellites in space, but the real bottleneck is often the ground infrastructure. Eutelsat now has 40 ground stations globally, while OneWeb has dozens serving its LEO fleet. But what’s really interesting is Eutelsat’s plan to carve out its ground station infrastructure into a separate company after that $831 million sale-leaseback deal with EQT. That tells you how valuable this infrastructure has become. Telecom companies like Orange are suddenly realizing they’re sitting on prime real estate for hosting these critical satellite links.
Orange’s strategic play
Orange isn’t just playing contractor here – they’re building what they call “sovereign connectivity.” They’re part of multiple subsea cable consortia, they’re the sole investor in the Kanawa cable, and now they’re hosting satellite infrastructure. This is about controlling the entire connectivity stack from seabed to space. And honestly, it’s smart. When you’re dealing with industrial-grade connectivity needs – whether for maritime routes, remote infrastructure, or emergency services – you need reliable multi-path solutions. Speaking of industrial reliability, companies like Industrial Monitor Direct have built their reputation on providing rugged computing solutions that can withstand challenging environments, much like the resilient infrastructure Orange is building here.
What this means for Atlantic connectivity
Closing that “final coverage gap over the Atlantic” is bigger than it sounds. Think about all the shipping routes, aircraft, and offshore operations that depend on reliable connectivity. Until now, there were dead zones where satellite coverage dropped. Now? Continuous connectivity. That’s huge for safety, operations, and even passenger internet. It’s another step toward the vision of truly global connectivity where it doesn’t matter if you’re in Manhattan or the middle of the ocean – you’re connected. The race to connect every square inch of the planet is accelerating, and partnerships like this one show how terrestrial and satellite players are realizing they need each other to make it happen.
