The European Union has finalized contracts with the industrial consortium SpaceRise to develop IRIS², a secure satellite infrastructure designed to reduce reliance on foreign providers like SpaceX’s Starlink. According to the EU Commission, the agreements establish detailed system designs, timelines, and financing shares for the multi-billion-euro megaproject.
Satellite Constellation and Security Architecture
The IRIS² network will consist of 348 satellites following the addition of 66 spacecraft stationed in a dedicated orbit to form an independent security layer, according to EU program plans. Of the total constellation, 330 satellites will operate in low Earth orbit while 18 will be positioned in medium Earth orbit, supplemented by components for specialized missions. EU figures indicate this configuration will boost protected transmission capacity for government users by approximately 60 percent within the community and 54 percent globally. Operations are scheduled to begin delivering initial services to government users by 2029.
Industrial Partnerships and Financial Contributions
Space consortium SpaceRise—comprising satellite operators SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat—signed a 12-year concession agreement in October 2024 to oversee operations. Construction and ground infrastructure development involve a broad European industrial network including Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, and Aerospacelab, alongside smaller companies and start-ups. Financing for the project draws from the EU budget for 2028 through 2034, individual member states, and partner countries. National commitments include 656 million euros from Poland, 500 million euros from Hungary, and between 1.6 billion and 2 billion euros planned by Spain, exceeding initial discussions that put total costs at 2.4 billion euros.
International Participation and Next Steps
Secure communication services will extend beyond EU borders to selected partner nations, with Norway and Iceland already participating. EU Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has also invited Great Britain and Ukraine to join the initiative. With contract negotiations concluded, project leaders can now issue orders for satellite manufacturing, rocket launches, and ground station deployment, marking the formal transition into IRIS²’s practical implementation phase.
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