Italy in Advanced Talks With SpaceX for $1.6 Billion, Five-Year Secure Telecom Deal, Largest in Europe

Jan 5, 2025, 07:47 PM

Italy is in advanced talks with Elon Musk's SpaceX for a $1.6 billion, five-year deal to provide secure telecommunications services to the Italian government, marking the largest such project in Europe. The agreement includes high-level encryption for government phone and internet services, as well as communication services for the Italian military in the Mediterranean region and Starlink satellite services for emergency situations such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters. The project has been approved by Italy's intelligence services and defense ministry. The negotiations, which had been stalled until recently, gained momentum following a meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Florida. Italy is considering alternatives to the SpaceX deal, including the EU's IRIS² satellite constellation or developing its own satellite network, both of which would exceed €10 billion in costs.