The IRIS² satellite network has moved from contract wrangling to deployment planning. On August 7, the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium signed an implementation agreement expanding the planned European secure-connectivity system to 348 satellites, the Commission said. The deal covers satellite development and deployment, launch procurement, a secure ground segment and the delivery of connectivity services.
The headline count rises by 66 satellites. The revised design calls for 330 spacecraft in higher low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit, launched in successive phases. First launches are now scheduled for 2029, with secure European connectivity services intended to begin rolling out progressively from that year, according to the Commission's announcement.
What will the IRIS² satellite network be used for?
IRIS² is intended chiefly for secure communications used by European governmental and defence customers, including emergency services. The Commission says it is designed to support operations during crises and where terrestrial networks are limited or disrupted. That makes “Europe’s Starlink rival” a handy search label, but an incomplete description of the project.
SpaceX’s Starlink is principally a commercial broadband service. IRIS² is being built around sovereign, secure and accredited communications for public authorities. Reporting by Tom’s Hardware says Norway and Iceland are the participating non-EU countries, and that civilian uses are also envisaged. Engadget reported that businesses and citizens could eventually use the service in places without reliable conventional networks.
Why did the EU add 66 satellites?
The Commission says the enlargement combines two changes: additional functions and stronger security for satellites already in the baseline design, plus 66 new higher-LEO satellites for defence, security and emergency-service work. It projects that the revised architecture will provide 60% more secure governmental communications capacity inside the EU and 54% more worldwide.
Those are Commission projections, not a measure of service already delivered. The official announcement describes defence and security applications as the main reason for the change. The larger planned fleet is intended to expand secure governmental capacity; the agreement does not mean the network is operating yet.
SpaceRISE is a consortium including SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat. Tom’s Hardware reports that the Commission awarded it a 12-year concession contract in December 2024 to build and run IRIS². Manufacturers named in that report include Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, OHB and Aerospacelab.
The price is less cleanly documented in the material available. Tom’s Hardware reports total planned investment of more than €15.6 billion, up from a €10.55 billion figure attached to the 2024 concession. The Commission’s August 7 announcement confirms the revised constellation, timetable and capacity targets, but does not state a total project cost. For now, the firm news is the implementation agreement and the 2029 launch target, with the financial total reported separately.
This story draws on original reporting from Tom's Hardware.
