The European Union is planning its own satellite constellation, IRIS², as part of a €10.6 billion ($11.1 billion ) initiative to provide secure, 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 positions itself as Europe’s strategic alternative to commercial networks such as SpaceX’s Starlink.
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite) will comprise 290 satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), according to the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, which is providing early funding for the initiative.
“By offering advanced connectivity services to governmental users and bridging connectivity gaps across the Union, IRIS² underpins Europe’s strategic autonomy and technological leadership,” it said in a statement.
The project underscores the EU’s ambition to reduce its reliance on external players, ensuring uninterrupted communications while bolstering sovereignty and security in an increasingly contested geopolitical landscape.
“Launched by European rockets, the IRIS² constellation will promote European autonomy, resilience and competitiveness. It will ensure uninterrupted access to secure governmental connectivity services and provide high-end commercial services,” said the European Space Agency (ESA), whose members include 20 of the European Union’s 27 member states, plus the UK.
ESA expects to launch the first IRIS² satellites in 2029, and SpaceRISE, a consortium formed by satellite operators Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES, said it expects to begin providing service in early 2030.
Industry collaboration and funding
The European Commission has signed a 12-year concession contract worth €10.6 billion ($11.1 billion) with SpaceRISE , which is also supported by a core group of European subcontractors specializing in satellite communications. Key collaborators include Thales Alenia Space, OHB, Airbus Defence and Space, Telespazio, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Hisdesat, and Thales SIX
The EU will contribute €6 billion and ESA €550 million, while over €4 billion will come from private industry.
“To ensure financial sustainability, the Commission will make initial budgetary commitments under the current multiannual financial framework,” the European Commission said. “Future funding beyond 2027 will be subject to the adoption of successor programmes by the European Parliament and Council alongside the availability of appropriations.”
IRIS² won’t be launching into a vacuum: There are several other players already offering satellite internet service.
The backers of IRIS² are entrusting it with something of a public service mission, delivering high-speed, secure communications for government and commercial operations, serving European defense needs, bridging digital divides, and providing alternatives to foreign-owned infrastructure. The service also aims to differentiate itself technically with its interlinked LEO and MEO satellites
Challenging Starlink’s market dominance
The best-known competitor to the future service is Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which continues to launch new satellites to expand its global footprint. It offers satellite internet to businesses, military agencies, and rural regions. Starlink’s dominance has highlighted Europe’s need for its own independent communications network, especially as reliance on non-European providers raises concerns around data security and regional competitiveness.
IRIS² aims to address these challenges head-on.
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.
Source:: Network World