Space rivals join up to bid for EU’s US$6.6 billion satellite plan
Add BT as a preferred source
EUROPE’S top satellite and aerospace companies have teamed up to bid for the European Union’s US$6.6 billion satellite project known as Iris², aimed at beaming Internet across the continent and giving the bloc its own fleet to keep up with constellations deployed by governments and businesses around the world.
The consortium will be run by aerospace manufacturers Airbus and Thales Alenia Space along with satellite operators Eutelsat Communications, SES, and Hispasat, the companies said in an emailed statement on Tuesday (May 2).
If it wins the contract, the consortium will be required to run a system of hundreds of satellites in multiple orbits, from the traditional geostationary path about 35,406 kilometres away from earth to closer ones.
Iris², which stands for “infrastructure for resilience, interconnectivity and security by satellite,” will provide access to government agencies, including defence departments, and businesses. It will also be deployed to connect parts of the EU that don’t have Internet. The EU has said the constellation will provide critical infrastructure and reinforce its technological sovereignty as other countries, such as China, as well as private companies, develop their own systems.
Billionaire Elon Musk is currently the largest operator of low-earth orbit satellites. He’s already launched thousands of Starlink satellites using Space Exploration Technologies rockets. Low-earth orbit fleets pass fewer than 600 miles from the planet’s surface and offer faster connection speeds, but need many more satellites to cover the same landmass than satellites at higher orbits. Other such systems are being backed by Amazon.com and OneWeb.
The Iris² satellites will start providing service next year and will reach full capacity by 2027. The EU’s contribution to the overall cost will be 2.4 billion euros (S$3.5 billion), according to a March statement. Another 685 million euros will come from the European Space Agency and the rest will come from the private sector.
Navigate Asia in
a new global order
Get the insights delivered to your inbox.
The consortium will work with telecom and technology companies Deutsche Telekom, Orange, OHB, Hisdesat Servicios Estrategicos and Telespazio and Thales, the group said in the statement. BLOOMBERG
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
