The European Union will establish its own satellite communications group. On 14 February, the European Parliament adopted a proposal on Resilience, Interconnection and Security Infrastructure by Satellites (IRISS). The almost unanimous resolution was supported by 603 votes to just six. Approval of the project follows the high role of communication satellites star connection SpaceX to assist Ukraine’s defense Russian invasion stressed the need for secure, sovereign European opportunities.
With its launch, IRISS will see the creation of a multi-orbit connectivity infrastructure. 170 satellites To low earth orbit (LEO) and other entities in mid-earth orbit (MEO) and fixed orbits between 2025 and 2027.
“IRISS will soon join its counterparts Galileo And Copernican and will complement them by providing sovereign, secure, sustainable and cost-effective uninterrupted communications services with initial services by 2024 and full operational capacity by 2027.”. From the General Directorate of the EU Defense Industry and Space Commission (DEFIS).
The group will focus on utilities, including defense applications, and will provide broadband across Europe, including Africa as well as existing dead zones. It will also build on the development of European capabilities such as: quantum encryption satellites and new breakthrough technologies. It will attract both big players in the European space industry and beginners.
About this Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, said the vote “marks a historic milestone for the EU’s strategic autonomy, digital sovereignty and competitiveness”.
“Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine has shown how important space sovereignty and secure communication services are in a conflict situation,” Breton said. “It is also game-changing for EU citizens with the development of high-speed broadband, the elimination of communication dead zones, and the strengthening of EU cohesion policy.”
The European Parliament allocated 2.4 billion euros for the project. The European Space Agency and the private sector will also contribute.
Source: Port Altele
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