EU to launch multi-orbital constellation of satellites to improve communication networks

On December 16, the European Union announced plans to launch a multi-orbital constellation of satellites to improve its secure communication networks, particularly those for security and defense.

The European Commission awarded a 12-year concession contract for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security via Satellite (IRIS) system to SES SA, Eutelsat SA, and Hispasat S.A, Euronews reported.

IRIS, a multi-orbital satellite network, should be fully operational by 2030.

The €11 billion project will entail a little under 290 satellites, with launches beginning in 2029.

The goal is to deliver secure connectivity services to EU member states and governmental entities, as well as high-speed broadband to private businesses and European residents, with coverage in bandwidth-deprived areas.

Andrius Kubilius, the newly appointed Defence and Space Commissioner of the European Union, regarded IRIS as a “paradigm shift for Europe.”.

“For the first time ever, our space program will explicitly contribute to the defense needs of our member states. In times of crisis, we cannot afford to be too dependent on countries or companies from outside the EU,” Andrius Kubilius said, quoted by Euronews.

The contract signing, which has been in the works for almost a year and a half, is a “defining moment in our journey toward a stronger, more connected, and secure Europe,” according to Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency (ESA).

The brand-new constellation, he stated, would be “increasing the resilience and autonomy of the union and its states, while also strengthening their satellite communication capabilities and boosting the competitiveness of the European space industry—all for the ultimate benefit of Europe and its citizens.”

The EU budget will allocate six billion euros, though only €2 billion are designated for it in the EU’s ongoing multi-annual budget, which expires in 2027, while the European Space Agency (ESA) will provide €0.55 billion and private investments will contribute €4.1 billion.

The design phase is scheduled to span a year, followed by a development and validation phase that will extend until 2028. Deployment will begin in 2029 with up to 13 Ariane 6 launches, with service provision set to begin in 2030.

However, through a program known as GovSatcom, five member nations—France, Italy, Luxembourg, Greece, and Spain—will start pooling their spare satellite capacity in 2025, offering services gradually starting in late 2027.

An EU official, commenting on the condition of anonymity, stated prior to the signature that the multi-orbital element will be the system’s primary added value. Some 18 satellites will be launched in mid-orbit (at about 8,000 kms), with the majority of them (264) orbiting at around 1,200 kms and the remaining 10 at between 450 and 750 kms from Earth.

This multi-layer method has the same performance as 1,000 satellites working together at a similar orbital height. It will cover the entire world, allowing the satellites to communicate and return all data to Europe via three ground stations in Luxembourg, France, and Italy.