European Union Launches IRIS²: A Bold Step Towards Space and Digital Sovereignty
IRIS² is planned to consist of 290 satellites positioned in low and medium Earth orbits, with operations expected to commence by 2030.
The primary objective of IRIS² is to provide secure and high-speed internet connectivity for European governments, private enterprises, and citizens, particularly in remote regions lacking adequate coverage.
This initiative reflects the EU's concerns about over-reliance on non-European satellite networks, such as Starlink, which currently has about 7,000 satellites providing services in over 100 countries.
The project is a collaborative effort involving a consortium of European aerospace and telecommunications companies, including Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES, Airbus, and Thales Alenia Space.
The funding for IRIS² is structured with 61% coming from public sources, while the remaining investment is provided by private entities within the consortium.
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