Technology

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/4423551

The European Commission choose a consortium to deploy the IRIS² satellite constellation, as the European Union seeks its own satellite broadband system to ensure the bloc isn’t reliant on foreign entities such as Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The SpaceRISE consortium is composed of three European satellite network operators: SES SA, Eutelsat SA, and Hispasat S.A. The consortium relies on a Core Team of European subcontractors from all segments of the satcom ecosystem for the delivery of the scope of the concession contract: Thales Alenia Space, OHB, Airbus Defence and Space, Telespazio, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Hisdesat and Thales SIX.

The procurement is now entering its final phase towards the signature of the concession agreement scheduled by December 2024, upon which the legal and financial commitment from both parties will be taken.

Some military forces such as those of the U.S. rely on Elon Musk's Starlink, the first large satellite constellation to use low Earth orbit to deliver broadband Internet, but this has been raising concerns of dependency on a private company that could potentially deactivate a critical service.