SpaceRISE Consortium Backs €4.1B IRIS2 for Secure European Communications
The SpaceRISE consortium, led by SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, has committed 4.1 billion euros to the IRIS2 programme, with initial operations expected in 2030. IRIS2 aims to provide secure, low-latency communications for European military, civil, and commercial applications.
IRIS2, proposed in 2022, is not a megaconstellation like Starlink or Kuiper. Instead, it's a constellation designed for European sovereignty and data protection. The consortium, including Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, and General Dynamics European Land Systems, plans to enhance IRIS2 technology for increased resilience and real-time data dissemination.
The satellites will act as 5G nodes and be upgraded to 6G as soon as possible. They will also help test and understand the business case for direct-to-device service in the low Earth orbit layer. European civil space leaders have suggested expanding the IRIS2 satellite constellation.
With a pledged budget of 4.1 billion euros, IRIS2 is set to revolutionise European communications. Its first operations are expected in 2030, with full capability a year later. The programme's timeline and size have been defended as a 'minimum viable product' designed for scalability, with enhancement projects estimated to cost about 600 million euros.
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