The EU plans to deploy its own IRIS² satellite communication system by 2029
EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius stated that Starlink risks losing the trust of European partners due to breaches of contractual obligations regarding Ukraine. According to the official, the reliability of the service is a key condition for further cooperation with the member states of the European Union. This was reported by Ukrinform citing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius emphasized that the partnership is based not on the goodwill of a private company, but on clear agreements funded by European nations. Failure to fulfill signed obligations threatens the reputation of SpaceX and could complicate the provision of services to both European governments and citizens in the future.
Alternative European communication systems
In response to challenges related to satellite internet performance, the European Union is actively investing in developing its own capabilities. The project known as IRIS² is intended to become a full-fledged alternative to existing commercial networks. According to Kubilius, the first results from the implementation of this large-scale space plan are expected by 2029.
Until then, the EU is implementing an interim solution — the GOVSATCOM system. It integrates the resources of member states to provide a secure data transmission channel. It is expected that Ukraine will be able to access the services of this network as early as next year, which will help partially reduce dependence on external providers.
Issues with technology access
Discussions surrounding Starlink’s activities have intensified against the backdrop of technical restrictions imposed on users in Ukraine. It was previously reported that in mid-October, connection speeds were significantly throttled, preventing the effective operation of systems used to intercept enemy drones. Although full-speed access has been restored, the issue of stability remains open.
Concurrently, military personnel have reported difficulties in using the Starshield system, which led to the cancellation of certain missions. In turn, SpaceX leadership, led by Elon Musk, maintains that the Starshield system is under the direct control of the United States government and military agencies, whereas the commercial Starlink network remains under the management of the company itself.
Photo: Ukrinform
