The European Union is actively working on deploying its own IRIS2 satellite network, which aims to become a leading alternative to Starlink and provide an enhanced level of secure communication for EU member states and partners, including Ukraine. This was announced by European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, who emphasized the ambitious plans for the project.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Advanced Technologies and Advantages of IRIS2
According to Kubilius, the new IRIS2 satellite communication system, set to launch in 2029, will implement advanced quantum technologies for signal encryption. This will ensure a significantly higher level of communication security compared to existing solutions.
“Some experts say that technologically this system could be better than Starlink. We plan to use, among other things, quantum technologies for signal encryption. This means a significantly higher level of communication security,” said Kubilius.
However, he noted that the EU typically takes more time to make decisions and launch large-scale projects, but this allows for the creation of a product that surpasses existing analogs.
Kubilius cited the example of the Galileo satellite navigation system, which became three times more accurate than GPS after its implementation and demonstrated Europe’s technological potential.
Structure and Prospects of the EU Satellite Network
Once fully deployed, IRIS2 will include 290 satellites positioned in various orbits. Leading European companies are working on the development: French Eutelsat, Spanish Hispasat, and Luxembourg’s SES SA.
Alongside the launch of IRIS2, the GovSatCom system has been operational in the EU since early 2026, which combines existing governmental satellite resources to ensure secure communication for state structures. Currently, GovSatCom is used for civilian tasks, but in the future, with the inclusion of commercial operators, it will also be able to meet military needs.
Kubilius emphasized that for satellite communication to function effectively, not only satellites are needed but also modern ground receivers. Next year, commercial communication services are planned to be connected to GovSatCom, expanding the system’s capabilities.
According to the Commissioner, 2029 is just around the corner, and the EU is confidently moving towards the realization of this large-scale project. He expressed confidence that the new system will be able to surpass Starlink in terms of technology and security.
It is worth noting that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Starlink has become vital for supporting civilian infrastructure and military management in Ukraine. In Brussels, crisis scenarios have been considered for several years in case of disruptions in this system’s operation, and long-term strategies are being developed to ensure stable and secure communication for the EU and its partners.