Starlink plans ground station in Leuk: Tax benefits through Swiss company
The company Starlink, which belongs to Elon Musk's aerospace group, is planning the construction of a new ground station in Leuk in the canton of Valais. A dedicated Swiss company has already been established for this project. The station is intended to help improve the global coverage of the satellite internet service.
Research shows that a complex international corporate structure lies behind the Swiss subsidiary. Experts suspect that this model is being used to optimize the company's tax burden in Switzerland. Such structures are not uncommon among large international technology corporations.
The Leuk location is strategically important for Starlink. The municipality in Valais offers good infrastructure for the technical facilities required to establish the connection between satellites in space and the internet network on Earth. The local population and authorities are observing the project with interest, as it could bring jobs to the region.
Although the corporate model raises questions regarding tax transparency, the procedure is legally permissible. The authorities in Leuk are currently reviewing the building applications for the facility. It remains to be seen how Starlink's presence will affect the local economy and tax revenues in the canton of Valais in the long term.