In the galaxy of the controversial billionaire Elon Musk, gravitate Tesla electric cars and the social network These trails of light points in the sky, which appear with each SpaceX rocket launch, are them. They join, almost every week, a cluster made up today of 7,000 satellites in low orbit which plague astronomers because they harm their scientific observations. In return, they allow a fast internet connection in theaters of war or in Mayotte, where the telecommunications network is partly destroyed.
“I no longer hear the children moaning”
In Mayotte, but also in Brittany, where these satellites give residents, waiting for fiber, access to new uses of the Internet: streaming series, online video games and videos. This is the case of Jean-Marie Le Bescond, 47 years old, resident of Pluméliau (56), confined to ADSL for a long time and who was convinced by a Starlink ad, at the end of 2023: “I took the option with equipment rental, for 50 euros per month all inclusive. I installed the dish myself, on the roof, you just need to have a clear view of the sky,” he explains. And since then, “I no longer hear the children moaning when they play video games and, on the TV, I have between 130 and 160 Mb/s of speed. Honestly, it’s the best.”
Same satisfaction for Mathieu Hascoët, 39 years old, from Gouézec (29), who chose to buy the equipment, currently costing 350 euros, rather than renting it, and pays his monthly subscription 40 euros. “We download the app, install the antenna and, in ten minutes, we have internet,” he appreciates.
Our two users, however, note “very rare” micro-cuts and weak wifi. And when fiber arrives at home, they are thinking of subscribing to it, “for more speed and a subscription that remains cheaper,” notes Mathieu Hascoët.
In Fréhel (22), the boss of the Manoir Saint-Michel hotel, Jérôme Fournel, is one of the pioneers of Starlink in Brittany: “In 2020, it became complicated with certain customers, unhappy with our Internet connection. » In 2021, the progression of fiber stops just a few steps from its door. “So I signed up to have Starlink. And since that day, zero customer complaints,” assures the hotelier. Surprisingly, he does not want to switch to fiber, for which he is now eligible, because the subscription is “much more expensive for a professional”, according to him. “And we are not safe from a blow from an excavator which deprives us of the Internet for several days», he squeaks.
Elon Musk's interference in European political life and his support for Donald Trump are not major obstacles for our three users: “It's the downside of Starlink”, nevertheless recognizes Mathieu Hascoët. “If we stop at that, we won’t buy anything anymore. Elon Musk didn't kill anyone with his own hand. Afterwards, everyone has a different tolerance barrier. He saved my business,” says Jérôme Fournel.
Fiber, a guarantee of sovereignty?
On the side of the Mégalis joint union, responsible for extending the fiber network in Brittany, we describe Starlink and other satellite offers, like that of Orange, as “complementary”… While promoting fiber which “offers a significantly greater comfort of use, with no latency time,” recalls Stéphane Perrin-Sarzier, vice-president of the regional council. And added: “The first challenge is to guarantee our sovereignty: the fiber network is the property of the Bretons, via the communities, and we rent it to the operators. If we were dependent on a foreign actor, like Elon Musk or another, and if he decided to restrict access to his network for political considerations, that would not go without posing a certain number of problems. »
