#EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry #Breton slapped down a last-ditch German effort to suspend the #IRIS2 satellite communications network — a European rival to #Elon#Musk's #Starlink system.
#Germany's Vice-Chancellor Robert #Habeck, who also serves as economy and climate minister, wants to delay the launch due to worries over what he called an “exorbitant” price tag.
#Iris2: the architecture of the #European Internet constellation soon to be revealed. The European Commission is due to receive their proposal by February 14.
IRIS2 is set to become #Europe’s third satellite component, after the #Galileo (geopositioning) and #Copernicus (Earth observation) systems. Its main mission will be to guarantee the security of government telecommunications and public services while providing global Internet coverage.
Last spring, we kicked off 🚀 the second phase of the procurement procedure for a concession contract to design, develop and operate #IRIS2, the new #EU Secure Satellite Constellation🛰️🇪🇺
The European Space Agency has signed up to build and launch the European Union's Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite constellation.
The project, known as IRIS2, has been on the books since 2022, when the European Union found €2.4 billion to fund the effort aimed at giving the bloc's members secure space-based comms capabilities and freeing them from reliance on foreign infrastructure.
@RiaResists@EU_Commission I've always seen this project as a way to win the new-space race. The more of those he send, the more difficult it will be for non-SpaceX launchers to find a window...
Providing space-based internet might just be an excuse to take the monopoly of the rocket market.
RT 🇪🇺 DG DEFIS #StrongerTogether
Happy #WorldWideWebDay!🌐
Today we highlight the #EUSpace Programme 🇪🇺🛰️ and its flagship IRIS², which will provide secure communication services to EU and global citizens
With 📡🛰️🔓 cutting-edge technologies, the future looks brighter & more connected!🚀 #IRIS2❤️#DigitalEU