The EU Launches Iris²: A Strategic Investment in Space-Based Communications

In a significant stride toward achieving digital sovereignty, the European Union has greenlit the Iris² satellite constellation with a committed budget of €10.6 billion. This massive infrastructure project is intended to establish a secure, EU-controlled alternative to existing non-European networks, most notably Starlink.

Key Drivers of the Project:

1. Reduced External Reliance: Establishing an independent communications backbone to enhance Europe’s security and control over its data.
2. Guaranteed Connectivity: Ensuring highly resilient, secure connectivity for critical governmental, commercial, and civilian needs.
3. Universal Access: Extending broadband services to remote and currently unconnected European regions.

Known formally as the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite, Iris² is planned to begin operations before 2030, offering coverage that stretches across Europe, into Africa, and the Arctic. This investment underscores the geopolitical reality that low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems are now a critical national security and strategic asset.