AFP – The European Union’s (EU) flagship satellite constellation project officially took off yesterday, as the bloc signed a concession contract with a European consortium to develop a secure space-based communication system.
Envisaging a multi-orbital network of almost 300 satellites, Iris² aims to rival United States (US)satellite internet service providers such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
“This cutting-edge constellation will protect our critical infrastructures, connect our most remote areas and increase Europe’s strategic autonomy,” said European Commission vice president Henna Virkkunen.
The system, developed as a public-private partnership, will serve both governments and private clients.
With an estimated budget of EUR10.6 billion, Iris² is to allow for secure communications for military, defence and diplomatic purposes.
Surveillance, connectivity in natural disaster-hit areas and commercial broadband access are among its other potential uses, according to the European Union.
Yesterday, the EU signed a 12-year concession for the implementation of the project with SpaceRISE, a consortium led by France’s Eutelsat, Spain’s Hispasat and Luxembourg’s SES.
