Two years after the announcement of the “European Starlink” project – the IRIS2 satellite network – the authorities of the European Union signed the first contracts for its creation. The project has risen in price from €6 billion to €10 billion and this seems to be not the limit. The timing of the expected start of the provision of satellite Internet services has also shifted from 2027 to the early 30s. The efforts made should make the EU independent from third countries in the field of space Internet communications.
Artistic representation of the IRIS2 network satellite. Image source: ESA
The European Parliament announced the IRIS2 project (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security by Satellites) in 2022. It took two years for the first contracts to develop satellite platforms and infrastructure to be awarded. This time was spent on disputes and the selection of contractors, and also revealed weaknesses in the initial cost estimate of the project, which turned out to be greatly underestimated. Even without starting, the project has risen in price from €6 billion to €10 billion. Since the EU authorities are ready to finance it only until 2027, they will have to look for a new source for the influx of funds, which is almost guaranteed to increase the cost of the project.
When the decision to build its sovereign satellite Internet in Europe was announced two years ago, the start of service was expected in 2027. The delay in concluding contracts has led to the fact that the network will now be able to provide a full package of services in the early 30s without specifying an exact date. However, they promise to begin providing IRIS2 services for government services and the military in 2030.
The IRIS2 network will be built on a relatively small scale with just 290 satellites in orbit, a stark contrast to SpaceX’s Starlink network of about 6,000 active satellites today. A number of voices in EU countries express doubts about the need to create their own satellite communications network in the presence of the excellent Starlink network. But skeptics say that Elon Musk cannot be considered a reliable partner, and it is better not to deal with him.
The first contract for the creation of a European satellite Internet communication network was concluded with the Consortium of European satellite providers – SES SA, Eutelsat and Hispasat. Work can also be subcontracted to other European companies. It is interesting to note that the IRIS2 satellites will also serve as navigation and Earth observation satellites. Their main task will be to provide broadband services in areas not covered by Internet services, both in Europe and Africa.