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Europe Will Build Its Own Secure Satellite Network
In a groundbreaking move, the European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a €10.6 billion contract to construct the IRIS constellation, a massive space program designed to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink network. This ambitious endeavor is expected to cost €10.6 billion and will span 12 years, with the first launch scheduled for 2029.
The IRIS project, which stands for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, aims to provide commercial broadband services while also dedicating a significant portion of its capabilities to security and crisis management. This ambitious initiative is built upon two existing EU satellite constellations, Copernicus and Galileo, the largest Earth-observation program and most accurate GPS system respectively.
The constellation will comprise nearly 300 satellites launched by European rockets, with the majority operating in low earth orbit and some in a medium earth orbit. It’s worth noting that €6 billion of the total budget comes from the EU, while the ESA will contribute €550 million. The remaining €4 billion will be secured through partnerships with private sector entities.
The ESA is collaborating with the European Commission via SpaceRISE, an industrial consortium comprising SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, as well as other prominent satellite operators, telecommunications companies, and technology giants such as Deutsche Telekom, Airbus, and Thales.
Although IRIS is still several years away from becoming operational, it’s likely that Starlink will continue to dominate the current satellite internet market in the meantime. Recently, SpaceX successfully completed the construction of its direct-to-cell satellite constellation, enabling mobile phone connectivity in remote areas.
In summary, this monumental undertaking will see Europe build and deploy its own secure satellite network, a development that could have significant implications for global communication and security.
Source: www.engadget.com
