The European Union has officially moved forward with the accelerated expansion of its IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) constellation. The project, which now carries a price tag of approximately $18 billion, is designed to serve as a secure, sovereign alternative to existing commercial networks like Starlink.

Recent developments include the successful conclusion of the 'IRIS² Rendez-vous 1' phase, where industry partners—including major player SES—advanced technical strategies for the next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) architecture. The project has also reached a critical implementation milestone, with a Spanish firm securing a key role in the upcoming deployment phase.

By bolstering the size and technical capacity of the constellation, EU officials aim to provide high-speed, secure satellite internet to governments, businesses, and citizens across the continent. This move is largely viewed as a strategic necessity to ensure Europe’s digital autonomy and reduce dependency on non-European infrastructure providers.

"The reinforcement of IRIS² marks a turning point in our space strategy," said a representative from the European Space Agency. "We are not only building a network; we are securing Europe's digital future against emerging geopolitical threats."

As the project transitions from planning to active implementation, the focus will remain on scaling the fleet to meet stringent security requirements while maintaining cost-effectiveness for the member states involved.

Source: SpaceNews