Finally, a Sign of Life for Europe’s Sovereign Satellite Internet Constellation
Short summary:
The European Commission will build a satellite internet system called IRIS². It will have 290 satellites and cost over 10 billion euros. The goal is to make Europe more independent in internet access.
The European Commission plans to sign a historic contract by the end of the year to develop IRIS², a €10 billion satellite broadband network aimed at ensuring Europe’s sovereignty in space-based internet services. Managed through a public-private partnership with funding from the European Space Agency and industry, the project will create a 290-satellite constellation to provide secure connectivity for EU military forces and commercial customers. The SpaceRISE consortium, led by SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, will handle the network's development, deployment, and operation under a 12-year agreement.
IRIS² was announced in 2022 to reduce Europe’s reliance on foreign satellite networks such as SpaceX’s Starlink and OneWeb, which have demonstrated their strategic utility, including in military contexts like the Ukraine conflict. Unlike other megaconstellations, IRIS² will operate at multiple orbital altitudes, requiring fewer satellites for global coverage. However, rising costs and delays have pushed its service launch to 2030, three years later than originally planned, with future funding beyond 2027 still under discussion.
The initiative underscores the strategic importance of satellite broadband for Europe’s security and autonomy in a competitive global market, where players like Amazon and China are also building megaconstellations. The IRIS² program marks the largest space contract in EU history, but its complexity, including coordination among major European aerospace and telecom firms, presents significant challenges ahead.