2023-05-09 07:30:08
A consortium of almost all the major European satellite companies advertisement Tuesday that plans to bid on a proposed constellation of satellites to provide global communications . Essentially, such a constellation would provide the European Union with connectivity from low Earth orbit similar to that offered by SpaceX’s Starlink. The offer, which includes big players such as Airbus Defense and Space, Eutelsat, SES and Thales Alenia Space, responds to a request for help from the European Union to build a sovereign constellation to provide secure communications for government services, including the military. Applications
European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton announced the continent’s plans for this constellation, known as the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, or IRIS^2, last November. The European Union will contribute €2.4 billion, with additional contributions expected from the European Space Agency and private investment. “IRIS^2 establishes space as a vector of our European autonomy, a vector of connectivity and a vector of resilience,” Breton said at the time. “It enhances Europe’s role as a true space power. With a clear ambition and sense of direction.”
The partnership announced on Tuesday, which also includes Deutsche Telekom, Hispasat, OHB, Orange, Hisdesat and Telespazio, will aim to create a next-generation satellite constellation based on multi-orbit architecture. Although packed with established industry players, the association said it will encourage startups from the European space sector to join the coalition. This is in response to Breton’s desire to expand the European commercial space sector. Currently, Europe estimates the cost of this constellation at around 6,000 million euros and wants it to be ready to provide global coverage in the year 2027.
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