The satellite operator SES remains a leader in its field, but growing competition, particularly from companies like SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper, has prompted the need for innovation and restructuring.

SES, headquartered in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, is at the heart of a race to enhance customer service and technological advancements. Following its acquisition of IntelSat, the company is undergoing significant changes that will also affect its Luxembourg operations.

CEO Adel Al-Saleh was brought in to modernise, expand, and restructure the company. While this transformation is essential for staying competitive, such changes can create concern for employees at one of Luxembourg’s most important companies. Al-Saleh acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasised SES's strong local roots:

“We are a Luxembourg company with our headquarters here and a highly talented workforce. Changes are coming, but our headquarters will remain in Luxembourg, and we will continue to employ many people here.”

Currently, SES employs around 600 people in Luxembourg. However, Al-Saleh stressed the need for employees to adapt to the evolving landscape: "We need to improve our skills, and our employees should focus on their professional development. Some jobs may need to be relocated."

One possible relocation destination is India, a topic that recently arose in a parliamentary question from LSAP representatives. The state, a major SES shareholder, refrained from commenting on the company’s plans. Al-Saleh, while not disclosing specifics, reiterated the company's commitment to responsible restructuring:

“It’s too early to say exactly how Luxembourg jobs will be impacted. We are in ongoing consultations with staff representatives and unions to find solutions. SES has a history of acting in a socially responsible manner, offering new opportunities, retraining, and even early retirement programmes.”

The transformation is essential, according to Al-Saleh, for SES to keep pace with newer, more agile competitors. Companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’s Kuiper have introduced innovative and cost-effective communication solutions. Despite this, SES is not backing down, as shown by its recent IntelSat acquisition.

In addition to commercial competition, SES’s satellite services are crucial for defense and security, providing essential communication infrastructure for deterrence and protection. Al-Saleh highlighted SES’s vital role with defense ministries worldwide, although he clarified that the company does not work with nations subject to Western embargoes.