IRIS² Satellite Constellation Launched - European Union’s rival to Musk’s Starlink

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IRIS² at a glance

The IRIS² Satellite Constellation is the European Union’s third flagship, addressing   long-term challenges of EU’s security, safety and resilience by offering enhanced connectivity services to governmental users.

The new multi-orbital constellation of 290 satellites will combine the benefits offered by Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth (LEO) satellites. It is set to provide secure connectivity services to the EU and its Member States as well as broadband connectivity for governmental authorities, private companies and European citizens, while ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones.

The system will support a large variety of governmental applications, mainly in the domains of surveillance (e.g. border and maritime surveillance), crisis management (e.g. humanitarian aid), connection and protection of key infrastructures (e.g. secure communications for EU embassies) as well as security and defence (e.g. maritime emergency, force deployment, EU external actions, law enforcement interventions). The system will also enable a large number of commercial applications such as in the transport sector (maritime, railway, aviation and automotive), smart energy grid management, banking, oversea industrial activities, remote healthcare and rural connectivity (back-hauling).

The system will also enable mass-market applications including mobile and fixed broadband satellite access, satellite trunking for B2B services, satellite access for transportation, reinforced networks by satellite and satellite broadband and cloud-based services.

Relying on disruptive technologies, including 5G standards the multi-orbital EU secure connectivity system will ensure the long-term availability of reliable, secure and cost-effective satellite connectivity services at a global scale. It will allow further development of high-speed broadband and seamless connectivity throughout the Union, removing connectivity dead zones and increasing cohesion across Member State territories, and allow connectivity over geographical areas of strategic interest outside of the Union, notably the Arctic and Africa.

It will also incentivise the deployment of innovative and disruptive technologies and new business models, leveraging in particular the "New Space" ecosystem.

Thirdy party countries are allowed to become a member by financial contribution.

  1. European Commission
  2. The Guardian

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