Union Has Finalized Plans for Iris², a Satellite Internet Network Designed to End External Dependence, With the Project's Details Now

The €10.6 billion initiative is being managed by the SpaceRISE consortium, which includes major companies such as SES, Eutelsat, Hispasat, Airbus, and Deutsche Telekom. The partnership signed a 12-year contract earlier this year to deploy and operate the IRIS² network in orbit. The EU's updated roadmap shows a significant change in the number of satellites to be launched: the system's capacity has been increased from the initially planned 290 satellites to 348. The primary goal of this extensive network is to establish a secure communication infrastructure across Europe, eliminating external dependency.

In its first phase, the system will focus on providing high-speed internet access to public institutions and specific private companies rather than individual consumers. The total investment for the project is set at €10.6 billion. The EU aims to have the network fully operational by 2030. According to the project timeline, the first satellites are scheduled to be placed in orbit in 2029. After this phase, once the system reaches a certain capacity, services may become available to citizens. The IRIS² satellite network aims to boost Europe's competitiveness in space technologies, with ensuring uninterrupted critical public services among its top priorities.