The European Commission announced on October 31, 2024, that it is moving forward with the IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite) project, a sovereign broadband constellation aimed at enhancing government communications. The initiative, led by a consortium of European satellite operators including SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, plans to deploy over 290 satellites by 2030. This marks a delay from the original schedule, which anticipated global services by 2027 and satellite deployments beginning in 2025.
Initially, the project was budgeted at €6 billion, with the European Union agreeing to fund 60% and the remaining costs covered by private industry. However, unforeseen delays and higher-than-expected expenses have escalated the estimated budget to approximately €10 billion. The European Commission is currently finalizing financial details and has committed to a 12-year concession contract, with potential additional funding post-2027, contingent upon future program approvals and budget allocations.
The SpaceRISE consortium, comprising satellite operators SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, along with subcontractors Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, Hisdesat, Telespazio, OHB, Deutsche Telekom, and Orange, submitted their final bid on September 3. The European Commission is set to conclude contract negotiations by the end of the year, aiming to solidify the project’s framework and address the financial challenges that have emerged.
From a cybersecurity perspective, the IRIS² constellation is designed to provide secure and resilient communication channels for European governments and commercial entities. By establishing a sovereign satellite network, Europe aims to reduce reliance on non-European systems, thereby mitigating potential cybersecurity risks associated with foreign infrastructure. The project’s emphasis on security underscores the importance of safeguarding sensitive communications against cyber threats and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted via the satellite network.