Ukraine and partners may join Europe's IRIS² satellite network as Starlink alternative
Photo: European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius (Getty Images)
Ukraine, the UK, and Norway may gain access to the new European secure communication satellite network IRIS², which is set to become an alternative to SpaceX's Starlink system, Euractiv reports.
According to European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, the EU does not rule out the participation of third countries in the program, which is estimated to cost €10.6 billion.
"I wouldn't be against it," Kubilius said in response to a question about the potential inclusion of non-EU countries.
Norway is already in talks with Brussels about joining IRIS².
At the same time, Ukraine and the UK have not yet officially begun a dialogue about participating in the program.
Kubilius emphasized that the UK has significant experience in the space sector, while Ukraine has strong engineering capabilities and a long history as a space hub dating back to Soviet times.
Iceland, like Norway, completed negotiations on joining the program at the beginning of July.
Starlink and monopoly concerns
Amid full-scale war, Ukraine has widely used Starlink for both military and civilian telecommunications.
However, the dominance of the American platform in the satellite communications market has raised concerns in Europe - particularly due to the lack of independent infrastructure.
IRIS² is expected to be launched in the 2030s and will include around 280 satellites providing secure communications for government, defense, and commercial purposes of participating countries.
Kubilius also noted that the draft EU Space Act, presented by the European Commission on June 25, has so far not received negative feedback from Washington.
The document is still in the early stages of discussion and, according to the commissioner, merely outlines the framework for future regulation of satellite telecommunications.
Alternatives for Ukraine
Ukraine is forced to seek alternatives to Elon Musk's Starlink due to unstable relations with the US. Europe is ready to offer a full-fledged substitute.
In addition, the GovSatCom initiative, launched by the European Commission under the EU Space Programme, will ensure long-term availability of reliable, secure, and cost-effective government satellite communication services for EU public authorities.
