The European Commission has taken a small step toward creating its own sovereign internet constellation to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
In a press release, the Commission said it will sign a 12-year contract for IRIS2 with the SpaceRISE consortium, a group of EU-based satellite companies including Eutelsat, Hispasat and SES, by the end of the year after accepting their “best and final offer”.
The IRIS2 project envisages the creation of a satellite constellation of 290 satellites that will provide reliable internet to EU government agencies, private companies and EU citizens.
The mega constellation should help European authorities “respond to crises, protect critical infrastructure, and bridge the digital divide,” SpaceRISE said in a press release.
“Being selected as a trusted partner for IRIS2 is an honor,” said Adel Al Saleh, CEO of SES, in the press release.
“Spacerise … will define and develop a forward-looking space network that will serve as a cornerstone of European space and defense strategies in the years to come.”
The press release did not specify the amount of the contract, but the Commission estimates that it will be worth €6 billion in 2023, with most of the funding coming from the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA) until 2027.
The announcement comes after a series of delays in reaching an agreement on IRIS2.
The project, first announced in 2022, was supposed to be fully operational by 2027, but now the EU may have to wait until 2030, according to a SpaceRISE press release.
