Status: 17/11/2022 21:22
It is an important step towards greater independence for Europe: the EU wants to enable secure communications with a new satellite network. This should also provide better protection for critical infrastructure.
The EU wants to ensure secure communications for businesses and citizens with a satellite network. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Member States agreed to set up a so-called satellite constellation called Iris² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security via Satellites). To this end, €2.4 billion will come from the EU budget over the next few years.
“This is historic!” EU Commissioner responsible Thierry Breton wrote on Twitter after the deal. The EU is therefore adding a third component to its strategic space infrastructure: the Galileo and Copernicus satellite navigation system, used for Earth observation.
Protection of energy networks and health care
“This program is an important step towards greater strategic autonomy in Europe,” said CSU MEP Angelika Niebler. The war in Ukraine has shown that the EU has so far been completely dependent on third countries or private companies for satellite telecommunications. “The program decided today is intended to change this situation.”
Above all, Iris² intends to ensure the resilience of EU systems – also to protect critical infrastructures such as energy networks or healthcare – as well as the access of citizens and businesses to fast internet. Not only should radio dead spots in Europe be filled with high-speed internet, but the connection should also be made possible in strategic regions such as Africa and the Arctic. The new services are expected to be fully operational by 2027.
The agreement still needs to be formally confirmed by the EU Parliament and by the States, but this is considered a formality.
