Financial disclosures from the European Commission or the SpaceRise consortium

EU Signs €10.6 Billion Deal for 290-Satellite IRIS² Network to Rival Starlink by 2030

Dec 16, 2024, 04:00 PM

The European Union has signed a €10.6 billion ($11.13 billion) contract to build the IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) satellite constellation, aiming to rival Elon Musk's Starlink in providing secure and resilient satellite internet connectivity. The IRIS² program will consist of approximately 290 to 300 satellites deployed in low and medium Earth orbits. The project, launched after contracts were signed today in Brussels between the European Commission, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the SpaceRise consortium, is set to enhance Europe's digital sovereignty, safety, and security, particularly boosting secure communications for government, defense, and critical infrastructure. Major European aerospace and telecommunications companies, including Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, Eutelsat, SES, and Hispasat, are involved in the project. The €10.6 billion cost will be funded by 61% public funds, with the remainder from private satellite companies. The constellation is expected to be operational by 2030, providing encrypted global internet connectivity. The IRIS² program represents the EU's third major space infrastructure initiative after the Galileo navigation system and the Copernicus Earth observation network.