Key Points:
• The European Union is launching its own satellite constellation, IRIS², to provide secure and resilient connectivity to businesses, governments, and citizens.
• The €10.6 billion initiative will be jointly developed by the European Space Agency and SpaceRISE, a consortium of satellite industry leaders, and will comprise 290 satellites operating in low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit.
• IRIS² aims to reduce the EU’s reliance on external players, ensuring uninterrupted communications and bolstering sovereignty and security in an increasingly contested geopolitical landscape.
As reported by sources, the European Union is planning to launch its own satellite constellation, IRIS², as part of a €10.6 billion initiative to provide secure and resilient connectivity to businesses, governments, and citizens. The project will be jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and SpaceRISE, a consortium of satellite industry leaders, and will comprise 290 satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO).
IRIS²: A Strategic Alternative to Commercial Networks
IRIS² positions itself as Europe’s strategic alternative to commercial networks such as SpaceX’s Starlink. The project aims to reduce the EU’s reliance on external players, ensuring uninterrupted communications and bolstering sovereignty and security in an increasingly contested geopolitical landscape. The European Commission has signed a 12-year concession contract worth €10.6 billion with SpaceRISE, which is also supported by a core group of European subcontractors specializing in satellite communications.
Industry Collaboration and Funding
The EU will contribute €6 billion, while ESA will contribute €550 million. Over €4 billion will come from private industry. The project will be funded through a combination of public and private investment, with the European Commission making initial budgetary commitments under the current multiannual financial framework.
Challenging Starlink’s Market Dominance
IRIS² aims to address the challenges posed by Starlink’s dominance in the market. Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, offers satellite internet to businesses, military agencies, and rural regions. IRIS² aims to differentiate itself technically with its interlinked LEO and MEO satellites, providing high-speed, secure communications for government and commercial operations.
Enhancing Europe’s Technological Resilience and Competitiveness
The IRIS² program builds on Europe’s prior successes with Galileo, its satellite-navigation system, and Copernicus, the world’s largest Earth-observation initiative. As the third major EU space program, IRIS² is poised to enhance Europe’s technological resilience and competitiveness. The project is expected to launch the first satellites in 2029, with service provision expected to begin in early 2030.
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