The race for satellite internet dominance has intensified. The European Commission has given the green light to a €10 billion contract for a sovereign satellite internet constellation, IRIS². The landmark decision, announced on October 31, positions IRIS² as a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
Under the 12-year concession contract, a newly formed European consortium, SpaceRISE, will develop and operate a network of more than 290 satellites across multiple orbits. The system aims to provide governmental and commercial connectivity services by 2030, marking the EU’s most ambitious space infrastructure project.
Industry leaders join to form satellite internet constellation
The SpaceRISE consortium represents an unprecedented collaboration in the European space sector. Three of the continent’s leading satellite operators—SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat—will lead the initiative, supported by a core team of industrial heavyweights. They include Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space, and OHB on the manufacturing side, with Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telespazio, and Thales SIX providing telecommunications expertise.
The formation of such a comprehensive European alliance underscores the strategic importance of the IRIS² project, officially known as Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite. According to the Commission’s announcement, the consortium has built specific mechanisms to ensure competitive subcontracting, emphasising the inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in the supply chain. This focus on new entrants could reshape Europe’s space industry landscape, fostering a more diverse and dynamic sector, the Commission said.
The IRIS² project represents more than a technical projoct; it’s a strategic move to ensure Europe’s digital sovereignty, signalling its commitment to maintaining technological independence and secure communications.
Financial Framework and Future Prospects
While the exact financial details remain opaque in the official announcement, the €10 billion investment will be shared between the public and private sectors. The European Union and European Space Agency will provide public funding, while the SpaceRISE consortium will contribute private investment.
Additional funding post-2027 will depend on adopting successor programmes and available appropriations, highlighting the long-term nature of this space endeavour.
The constellation’s planned deployment of over 290 satellites in different orbits represents a significant technological undertaking. The multi-orbit approach could provide more robust and flexible service delivery than single-orbit systems.
The timing of the announcement is particularly significant as global competition in satellite internet services intensifies. With SpaceX’s Starlink already operational and Amazon’s Project Kuiper currently in deployment, Europe’s IRIS² aims to ensure the continent isn’t left behind in the space internet race.
As the European Commission moves towards finalising the concession agreement by December 2024, the project stands to transform Europe’s space and telecommunications landscape. The success of IRIS² could secure Europe’s digital sovereignty and establish new standards for international collaboration in space infrastructure development.
The project’s emphasis on governmental and commercial services suggests a balanced approach to sustainability, potentially creating a viable business model that could support long-term operations beyond initial public funding.
(Photo by Thierry Breton)
See also: Satellite IoT market set to quintuple by 2028
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