The European Parliament approves the creation of IRIS², the European Starlink

The new European Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security by Satellite, IRIS², has been approved by the European Parliament with 603 votes in favor and 6 against.

Frequently known as an alternative to Starlink the musk, IRIS² is presented as a low orbit satellite constellation prepared to service all types of devices. IRIS² will soon join its counterparts GALILEO y COPERNICUS, and will complement them by providing “seamless sovereign, secure, resilient and cost-effective” communication services, with initial services by 2025 and full operational capacity by 2027. IRIS², likewise, will provide secure connectivity and services broadband in all the dead zones that bridge the digital divide, not only for the European Union but also for its partners.

The European Parliament defines the approval of this Union Secure Connectivity Program (IRIS²) for the period 2023-2027 as a “giant leap” for the “technological sovereignty” of the EU, possible thanks to the joining of forces of the public and private sectors. A trio of funds will finance this new critical EU infrastructure: 2.4 billion euros of the EU budget, plus 685 million from the European Space Agency, while the rest will be borne by the private sector. All technological creators are welcome on board, Europe points out: from the large European space industries to the start-ups, which will build 30% of this multi-orbital constellation.

The Council of the European Union will adopt the text shortly, after which manufacturers will be able to start submitting proposals to build, launch and deploy IRIS² in space.

Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, values Parliament's decision very positively: "I welcome the result of today's vote, which marks a historic turning point for the strategic autonomy, digital sovereignty and competitiveness of the EU. The Russian military aggression against Ukraine has shown how crucial sovereign and secure communication space services are in the event of conflict. It also represents a game changer for EU citizens thanks to the development of high-speed broadband that eliminates communication dead zones and strengthens political of EU cohesion.