France's broadcasting regulator, Arcom, is on the verge of deciding whether satellite operator Eutelsat has breached European sanctions against Russia.

The decision follows requests from several NGOs, including Comite Diderot, which has raised concerns over Eutelsat's contracts with Russian media outlets like the army's Zvezda channel and state-run VGTRK.

These contracts represent a small fraction of Eutelsat's revenue, about 4%, but the watchdog's ruling could have significant financial consequences for the company.

In 2022, Eutelsat complied with Arcom's request to halt the broadcast of three Russian TV channels. However, the company still maintains agreements with other Russian media outlets, which some critics argue continue to violate EU sanctions.

Eutelsat has expressed respect for regulatory decisions, but the investigation has drawn attention to its ongoing contracts with Russian entities.

Arcom, which now has the authority to ensure EU sanctions compliance under France's 2024 SREN law, may impose a fine of up to 3% of Eutelsat's annual revenue.

If further violations are found, the penalty could rise to 5%. The French National Assembly recently supported the call for Arcom to enforce stricter compliance, reflecting growing pressure on Eutelsat amid the ongoing sanctions against Russia.