The European Union is has launched IRIS2, an ambitious multi-orbit satellite network. Comprising of 290 satellites, IRIS2 will offer high-speed internet connectivity across the continent via European-made “secure and encrypted” satellites.

Unveiled by EU Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, the IRIS2 project is an attempt to reduce longstanding dependency on non-European providers, with full-scale operations expected in 2030.

“Given all the geopolitical elements, we should speed up. We are quite dependent on American services,” Commissioner Kubilius commented.

He continued, “I have asked all partners to step up and speed up on IRIS². I am confident we can already deploy initial services by 2029. The goal: connectivity and sovereignty for all of Europe. Guaranteed access for all Member States, under full European control.”

IRIS2 is being launched amidst a broader European movement to guarantee data sovereignty. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has laid bare Europe’s vulnerabilities, compelling the EU to prioritise independent access to sensitive satellite and digital assets. With its dual-purpose design, IRIS2 will serve both governmental and commercial needs.

Kubilus admitted that a fear of immenient war was weighing heavily on member states. Commenting “I do want to share one concern. Member States fear that war is coming. That is why national and EU defence spending is increasing very rapidly, with investments into different modern defence systems, including strategic enablers and space services for defence. And in those circumstance some countries want to build and start building their own national capacities in space. Time is of the essence, capabilities are needed now, not in 5 or 10 years time.”

Taking on Starlink

The European entry into the satellite internet race is a clear challenge to established global operators such as SpaceX’s Starlink, which has quickly deployed thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide worldwide coverage.

IRIS2 will incorporate advanced encryption and multi-orbit satellite placement, to ensure resilient connectivity under adverse conditions. European officials have described the initiative as a step towards a “sovereign military cloud”.

IRIS2 complements GOVSATCOM, a recently launched satellite communications programme linking eight satellites across five member states for secure military and government use.

Alongside GOVSATCOM, individual nations are making significant investments: Germany has pledged €35 billion to enhance space defence, and France and Germany are jointly developing Odin’s Eye, a satellite-based missile early warning system due in the early 2030s.

IRIS2 marks a significant shift in Europe’s approach to space, moving beyond purely scientific or commercial pursuits towards projects that explicitly address national security and sovereignty. As secure satellite communications become ever more entwined with military preparedness, economic resilience, and crisis management, Europe’s investment in IRIS2 is seen as essential to long-term strategic stability.

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