EU Launches Its Own Satellite Communication Network IRIS2
The European Union has begun implementing an ambitious project to create an independent satellite communication system. The deployment of the IRIS2 network, a European alternative to SpaceX's American Starlink system, has been launched.
The first satellites are already in orbit and operational, although their use is currently limited at this stage. The project is notable for its scale: in total, plans call for launching about 290 satellites into orbit. The full deployment of the network is not a near-future prospect; it is expected only by the end of this decade. Currently, EU member states can use the system, but with significant functional limitations.
Concurrently with IRIS2, the limited operation of the GOVSATCOM system, created specifically for secure government and military communications, has begun. At the initial stage, satellites placed in low and medium Earth orbits serve exclusively the military structures and authorities of the European Union. When the network is fully deployed, ordinary EU residents may also gain access to IRIS2.
The initiative is directly linked to the European Union's course towards achieving technological and political sovereignty. In recent years, the issue of control over satellite communications has become particularly acute due to the dominance of American solutions, the primary one being Starlink. Creating its own satellite infrastructure will allow the EU to significantly reduce dependence on foreign providers, ensure secure communications for state needs, and form an independent digital ecosystem.