European Union, By increasing the IRIS² satellite network to 348 satellites finalized the implementation plan of the project. The agreement reached with SpaceRISE significantly expands the plan, which previously envisioned approximately 290 satellites. Accordingly, the first IRIS² launches in 2029 will start and connection services will be opened gradually starting from the same year. Thus, Europe clarified its schedule for establishing its own secure satellite communication network against Starlink and OneWeb.
IRIS² is called Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite and constitutes the EU’s third largest space program. The project, which follows Galileo and Copernicus, will provide commercial internet access as well as encrypted communications for governments and security agencies. In addition, the network will also provide broadband internet service to companies and individuals in regions where terrestrial connection does not reach. The European Commission aims to use a Europe-centered system, especially in crisis, defense and emergency communications.
Under the new plan 330 satellites in low Earth orbit, 18 satellites in medium Earth orbit will serve. The EU is increasing its secure communications capacity by adding 66 more low Earth orbit satellites to the previous design. The Commission calculates that this increase will increase public communications capacity by 60 percent within the European Union and 54 percent worldwide. While low orbit satellites will reduce latency, medium orbit satellites will provide connectivity in larger regions.
The SpaceRISE consortium is led by SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat; Airbus Defense and Space, Thales Alenia Space and OHB are also involved in the project. On the other hand, ESA follows the satellite development studies, proficiency tests and in-orbit verification processes from a technical perspective. Final talks between the Commission and SpaceRISE started in January On August 6, 2026 completed and announced the agreement the next day. The next calendar includes satellite production, ground stations and preparation of launch services.
The European Union allocates billions of euros for IRIS²
EU and SpaceRISE, 12-year concession agreement in December 2024 signed and set the initial cost at 10.6 billion euros. Of this total, 6 billion euros is covered by the EU, 550 million euros by ESA, and over 4 billion euros by the private sector. In addition, the expanding satellite network will receive additional resources from member countries and other participants in the 2028-2034 budget period. Poland announced an investment of 656 million euros, Hungary 500 million euros, and Spain between 1.6 and 2 billion euros.
Norway and Iceland are also without EU membership to the IRIS² program are among the participating countries. The first satellites will go into space in 2029, but not all 348 satellites will be put into service at once. The Commission will increase connectivity capacity as launches progress and gradually expand public services and commercial access. IRIS² will thus offer different services for governments, defense units, security teams, emergency organizations, companies and individual users.
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