Europe is building its own Starlink. The IRIS² project moves from plans to full-scale production, with first launches in 2029

The European Union has taken a key step towards its own satellite internet. On August 7, the European Commission, together with the SpaceRISE consortium, signed an implementation agreement that moves the IRIS² project from the drawing board to full-scale production and deployment – it is Europe’s answer to the American Starlink.

From plans to production: 348 satellites and launches in 2029

Negotiations on the program’s form, known as Rendezvous 1, began this January and concluded on August 6. According to the European Commission, the agreement confirmed the key parameters of the project – design, system capacity, deployment schedule, and target cost. After years of preparation, the program is thus shifting from planning to the phase where European manufacturers will actually start building the satellites.

The target constellation will comprise 348 satellites – 330 in low Earth orbit (LEO) and 18 in medium Earth orbit (MEO), with the possibility of adding further elements for specific missions. The European Space Agency (ESA) oversees the technical aspects, being responsible for the development, qualification, and in-orbit verification of the satellites. The first launches are expected in 2029, from which point service operations will gradually commence.

Reinforced IRIS² constellation primarily targets security

Compared to the original plan, the Commission is increasing the program’s capacity. An additional 66 satellites are being added, forming a dedicated layer for defense, security, and emergency services. According to the Commission, this will increase secure governmental capacity by 60% within the EU and by 54% globally.

The project is based on a public-private partnership. The SpaceRISE consortium consists of operators SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, with European companies such as Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, and Aerospacelab participating in the manufacturing. Governmental users from EU member states, as well as Norway and Iceland, will be able to use the secure connection.

How much it costs and how it differs from Starlink

Faster deployment and higher capacity mean additional investments. Funds are expected to come from the EU budget for 2028–2034 and from member state contributions. Poland has already allocated 656 million euros, Hungary 500 million euros, and Spain has announced investments ranging from 1.6 to 2 billion euros.

The comparison to Starlink is more about intent than scale. Unlike Starlink, which today consists of thousands of satellites and targets the mass consumer market, IRIS² is based on a constellation orders of magnitude smaller and emphasizes primarily sovereign and encrypted communication for governments, military, and emergency services. In addition, it aims to offer commercial connectivity and high-speed internet to areas where terrestrial networks cannot reach.

Can Europe complete its own satellite network in time, or will Starlink pull even further ahead in the meantime?

Sources: ESA, European Commission, GSMArena