CEO of one of France’s biggest engineering groups Bouygues issues 'America warning'; says: Europe doesn’t realize exactly how dangerous it is to …

Europe has received another warning about its dependence on American technology infrastructure, this time from Olivier Roussat, CEO of French engineering and telecommunications group Bouygues. Roussat said Europe is becoming too reliant on US technology infrastructure and does not fully understand the risks of relying on American systems in areas such as artificial intelligence and satellite connectivity.Speaking to CNBC, Roussat warned that Europe should develop greater technological independence rather than relying heavily on US infrastructure. “There [are] two things for the future where we need [Europe to] realize how big it is. This is AI, and this is satellite. Europe doesn’t realize exactly how dangerous it is to just rely on the American infrastructure,” Roussat said.Roussat highlighted the need for Europe to build alternatives in strategic sectors, including satellite communications, rather than relying on services such as Starlink.“It’s not sure that we absolutely need to get a Starlink or something like this,” he said, adding that Europe needs something “to get some sovereignty.”The comments come as AI systems and satellite networks increasingly become critical to communication systems, business operations and digital infrastructure. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, currently has around 10,000 satellites in orbit and is one of the dominant providers of satellite internet services.Roussat’s remarks also coincide with Bouygues’ efforts to reshape the French telecom market. In April, the company submitted a cash bid alongside Free–iliad Group and Orange for a controlling stake in telecom operator SFR.The proposed deal, valued at 20.35 billion euros ($23.6 billion), would reduce the number of telecom operators in France from four to three if approved by regulators.The transaction is expected to face scrutiny from European antitrust authorities as regulators assess its impact on competition in the telecom market.“The game for them [the European Commission] is to set up conditions where we will have a fair competition between us, and I think it’s possible,” Roussat said.Bouygues operates in construction, transport, and telecommunications, while France’s telecom sector has faced continued pricing pressure from competition among operators.