EU Signs €10.6 Billion Deal for Secure Satellite Network to Rival Starlink
The IRIS² constellation, set to launch by 2029, aims to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty and provide secure communications for governments and businesses.
- The IRIS² satellite network will consist of nearly 300 satellites in low and medium Earth orbits, providing secure communications and high-speed internet across Europe and beyond.
- The project is a public-private partnership funded by €6 billion from the EU, €550 million from the European Space Agency, and over €4 billion from private sector investments.
- The SpaceRISE consortium, led by SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, has been awarded a 12-year contract to develop, deploy, and operate the system.
- The constellation will support critical infrastructure, military communications, crisis management, and commercial broadband services, with full operations expected by 2030.
- IRIS² is part of the EU's broader strategy to reduce reliance on external providers like SpaceX's Starlink and to boost Europe's competitiveness in the global space industry.
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