Europe investing in telecommunication satellites to improve cybersecurity

Author Moonshot.news

Published on: 15/02/2023

Europe is investing Euro 2.4 billion in a new network of European telecommunication satellites. The scheme will ensure the EU’s strategic autonomy in the field of secure government communications, in a context where cyber security threats are becoming increasingly important, especially following Russia’s war against Ukraine, the European Parliament said when approving the investment.

The Infrastructure Resilience Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS) is described as Europe’s first multi-orbital constellation. The system, based on a public-partnership model, will be active from 2024 and was proposed by the EU Commission a year ago. 

“The new satellites will provide a secure communications infrastructure for EU government bodies and agencies, emergency services and European delegations around the world”, the Parliament said. 

“In negotiations with EU ministers, MEPs made sure to strengthen the system’s environmental provisions and sustainability, preventing space debris proliferation, light pollution, and providing carbon footprint compensation to offset the emissions from its operation”, the Parliament says.

“These satellites will be useful to governments, but also to citizens, bringing the internet to the least connected areas, said the Parliament’s  rapporteur Christophe Grudler (Renew, FR).

Today, the EU does not have a dedicated infrastructure (including space and ground segments) to offer satellite communication services to governments, the economy and civil society. Several EU global partners and competitors are investing in such capabilities.