The European Union is making significant strides in the satellite internet industry with the introduction of Iris², a formidable contender to Starlink. While Starlink has been a dominant force in delivering quick satellite internet, it primarily faces competition from mobile networks and fiber optics. The EU’s initiative, Iris², promises a breakthrough investment of 10.6 billion euros directed towards a cutting-edge satellite network.
Iris² marks the European Union’s third ambitious satellite endeavor, following the success of its GPS alternative, Galileo, and the earth observation project, Copernicus. With an anticipated launch by 2030, Iris² aims to provide EU member states with a secured, independent internet access, freeing them from reliance on unpredictable entities or foreign government interference.
A significant investment from the Financial Times report indicates that 61% of Iris²’s budget will emerge from public funds, while the remaining 39% will be secured by SpaceRise—a consortium featuring industry giants like Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES, Airbus, and Deutsche Telekom. SpaceRise has been entrusted with a twelve-year contract to construct and operate the state-of-the-art network, which will feature 290 satellites strategically positioned in both medium and low Earth orbits.
Mimicking Starlink’s approach, Iris² will primarily allocate most of its bandwidth to supply private users and businesses, particularly in remote regions with limited internet access. A fraction of this bandwidth will also serve governmental needs, ensuring pivotal infrastructure remains operational and facilitating surveillance operations during emergencies. Although specific details about bandwidth capabilities and satellite technologies remain under wraps, the project holds great potential.
