The European Commission approved the launch of the project on Monday December 16.

With several public (China, US) and private (Oneweb, Starlink and Kuiper) constellation initiatives being developed and put into service to meet data processing and connectivity needs, the telecommunications sector is more strategic than ever for France and Europe. The IRIS2 programme is designed to meet this challenge.

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The European Union’s secure connectivity satellite constellation programme was decided on in March 2023. IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) will be the first multi-orbital satellite network in Europe. Some 300 satellites will be designed, manufactured and deployed in the first phase.

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The programme will provide a wide variety of services to European governments and citizens. The system enables surveillance of borders and remote areas. The programme is indispensable for civil protection, particularly in the event of crises or natural disasters. It improves the delivery of humanitarian aid and the management of maritime emergencies, whether for search or rescue. Numerous smart connected networks – energy, finance, healthcare, data centres, etc. – will be monitored thanks to the connectivity provided by IRIS2. The system will also enable the management of various infrastructures: air, rail, road and vehicle traffic. Added to this are institutional telecoms services for embassies, for example, and new telemedicine services for intervention in isolated areas. Finally, IRIS2 will improve connectivity in areas of strategic interest for foreign security and defence policy: Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Arctic, the Atlantic and Baltic regions, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.