290 satellites compared to 7,000… but a 10.6 billion euro project to free Europe from Starlink dependence.
The future of the European spatial internet is finally taking shape. With the signing of the IRIS² contract, the European Union is entering the highly coveted world of satellite internet, a field until now largely dominated by the American Starlink.
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With a budget of 10.6 billion euros, IRIS² may seem modest compared to SpaceX's massive investments in Starlink. However, this European approach favors quality over quantity.
Where Starlink is banking on a constellation of 7,000 satellites in low orbit, IRIS² plans a more strategic deployment of 290 satellites, distributed between low and medium orbits. This configuration would allow better coverage with fewer satellites in orbit, thereby reducing the risk of space debris… and it costs a lot less.
The SpaceRISE consortium, led by European giants such as SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, brings considerable expertise to the project. The presence of Airbus and Deutsche Telekom also guarantees end-to-end technological mastery. But the real challenge will be to meet the timetable set for 2030, a deadline which may seem long given the speed of deployment of Starlink.
Double vocation
The particularity of IRIS² lies in its dual vocation: civil and governmental. If the general public will benefit from a high-speed internet connection in white areas, the European institutions will have a secure and sovereign communications network. C
This “two-in-one” approach could prove more economical than developing two separate networks.
However, there is no guarantee of the commercial viability of the project. With a limited number of satellites, IRIS² will have to demonstrate remarkable efficiency to compete with Starlink in the consumer market. The prices of the offers, not yet communicated, will be essential for the adoption of the service.
Obviously, the success of IRIS² will not be measured solely by its commercial profitability. Its real challenge is to guarantee European strategic autonomy in an area that has become essential for our society.
Faced with a market dominated by American and Chinese players, Europe is betting on technological sovereignty, even if it means taking its time to do things well.
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