European Consortium Aims to Deliver Secure and Resilient Satellite Connectivity with IRIS²

European Consortium Aims to Deliver Secure and Resilient Satellite Connectivity with IRIS²

(IN BRIEF) A group of European space and telecommunications companies, including Airbus Defence and Space, Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES, and Thales Alenia Space, have formed a consortium to respond to the European Commission’s call for tender for the future European satellite constellation IRIS². The consortium aims to create a state-of-the-art satellite constellation that provides secure and resilient connectivity infrastructure to European governments, businesses, and citizens, and is based on a multi-orbit architecture that is interoperable with the terrestrial ecosystem. The consortium aims to encourage collaboration among European space players, while fostering innovation and competitiveness in the European space sector. IRIS² will also offer its infrastructure abroad and is the EU’s new flagship space programme for a digital, resilient, and safer Europe.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG/ MADRID/ MUNICH/ PARIS, 2-May-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Airbus (EPA: AIR), a European multinational aerospace corporation, announces that a consortium of European space and telecommunications companies, including Airbus Defence and Space, Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES, and Thales Alenia Space, have formed a partnership to respond to the European Commission’s call for tender for the future European satellite constellation IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). The open consortium will also include Deutsche Telekom, OHB, Orange, Hisdesat, Telespazio, and Thales. The goal is to create a state-of-the-art satellite constellation based on a multi-orbit architecture that would be interoperable with the terrestrial ecosystem, providing secure and resilient connectivity infrastructure to European governments, businesses, and citizens.

The integrated team aims to foster collaboration among European space players across the connectivity value chain, leveraging synergies between government and commercial infrastructures, while encouraging start-ups, mid-Caps, and SMEs to join the partnership. The consortium aims to deliver sovereign, secure, and resilient government services to protect European citizens and bridge the digital divide across European territories, while increasing Europe’s global outreach and competitiveness as a space and digital power on the global market.

IRIS² will also offer its infrastructure abroad and is the EU’s new flagship space programme for a digital, resilient, and safer Europe. The consortium aims to create an innovative and competitive European space sector where new business models will emerge.

Media contacts:

Beatriz Lozano
External Communications – Airbus Defence and Space
Phone: +49 172 341 38 38
beatriz.lozano-mendez@airbus.com

Anita Baltagi
Eutelsat
Phone: +33 (0)6 43 93 01 78
abaltagi@eutelsat.com

Víctor Inchausti
Hispasat
Phone: +34 667 31 29 48
vinchausti@hispasat.es

Suzanne Ong
SES
Phone: +352 710 725 500
suzanne.ong@ses.com

Sandrine Bielecki
Thales Alenia Space
Phone: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com

SOURCE: AIRBUS