The Space Consortium for a Resilient, Interconnected, and Secure Europe has signed a contract with the European Commission and the European Space Agency to design, deliver and operate the IRIS2 constellation.
SpaceRISE received notification that it won the contract in November. The group will use funding from private and public investments.
The deal, signed at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels on Monday, will see the consortium support the constellation for 12 years. SpaceRISE is led by SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat and backed by several other vendors, including Thales Alenia Space, OHB, and Airbus Defence and Space.
IRIS2, short for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, is a network of 290 satellites in low and medium Earth orbit scheduled to be operational by early 2030.
Through the satellite constellation, the EC aims to drive the European Union’s digital transformation, addressing challenges in security and resilience. IRIS2 is also expected to bridge the digital divide by offering high-speed internet to EU residents, governments and businesses.
According to Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke, his company’s unique capabilities, including its LEO constellation, would significantly contribute to IRIS2.
“By combining this advanced infrastructure with the collective strengths of the SpaceRISE consortium, we will deliver a transformative communications backbone that addresses Europe’s most critical connectivity needs of our governments, reinforces its leadership in space innovation, and bridges the digital divide for millions of citizens and businesses across the continent,” the executive said.