In response to a request for alternative satellite solutions to Starlink, the EU Commission confirmed Ukraine’s interest in utilizing both Govsatcom and the future IRIS² constellation. While IRIS² won’t be operational until the 2030s, expediting Govsatcom deployment is being considered as an interim solution, offering “precursor governmental services.” Additional options include leveraging existing commercial satellite capacity from providers like Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES, and OneWeb.
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The European Union’s ambitious €10.6 billion ($11.1 billion) investment in its Iris² satellite constellation marks a significant step towards achieving digital sovereignty and challenging Elon Musk’s Starlink dominance. This public-private partnership, initially estimated at €6 billion, saw its cost inflate by 76% during negotiations, ultimately resulting in a 61% public funding contribution. The remaining funds will come from SpaceRise, an industry consortium featuring prominent players like Eutelsat, a company that recently merged with OneWeb.
This substantial investment highlights the EU’s determination to establish an independent and secure satellite communication network for its governments. The project aims to launch nearly 300 satellites into low and medium-Earth orbits by 2030.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood