SpaceRISE Agreement Places HispaSat at Centre of Europe’s IRIS² Ground Infrastructure

SpaceRISE Agreement Places HispaSat at Centre of Europe’s IRIS² Ground Infrastructure

(IN BRIEF) HispaSat has confirmed its commitment to IRIS², the European secure satellite communications programme, and will become prime contractor for the constellation’s ground segment, valued at more than €1.6 billion. The agreement follows negotiations between the SpaceRISE consortium, the European Commission and the European Space Agency. SpaceRISE includes Eutelsat, HispaSat and SES, three major European satellite operators. IRIS² will involve total planned investment of more than €15.6 billion and will include 342 satellites, comprising 330 low Earth orbit satellites and 12 medium Earth orbit satellites. First launches are planned for 2029, with initial services expected in 2030. HispaSat will also lead the programme’s Low LEO layer for direct-to-device and IoT connectivity, and has committed to invest up to €600 million in exchange for exploitation rights in strategically important regions.

(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 7-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — HispaSat has confirmed its commitment to IRIS², the European secure satellite communications programme, and will serve as prime contractor for the system’s ground segment, an infrastructure package valued at more than €1.6 billion.

The agreement follows the conclusion of negotiations between the SpaceRISE consortium, the European Commission and the European Space Agency on the development and deployment plan for the new European satellite communications constellation.

SpaceRISE is formed by three leading European satellite operators: Eutelsat of France, HispaSat of Spain and SES of Luxembourg.

HispaSat, an Indra Group company operating under the Indra Space umbrella, will be the first Spanish company to participate in the consortium responsible for managing a major European space project.

Under the agreement, HispaSat will act as prime contractor for the ground segment of the full IRIS² constellation.

This will include antenna infrastructure, control systems and connectivity with terrestrial networks.

The ground segment will be the largest and most complex system of its kind developed to date in Europe for a space programme.

It will comprise the facilities needed to manage and operate the constellation’s different orbital layers and connect them securely to ground networks across multiple locations.

These facilities will be designed to meet the strict security and resilience requirements of a government communications programme.

IRIS² is the European programme for secure satellite communications serving commercial and military applications in strategically important areas.

The initiative is structured as a public-private partnership between the European Commission, the European Space Agency and the SpaceRISE consortium.

Total planned investment in the programme exceeds €15.6 billion.

The recently concluded negotiations established the roadmap and timeline for the development, production and deployment of the constellation.

The system will consist of 342 satellites, its ground support infrastructure and the services that will be offered to government and commercial users.

The first launches are planned for 2029, with initial services expected to begin in 2030.

In addition to leading the ground segment, HispaSat will also lead the development of the system’s very low Earth orbit layer, known as Low LEO.

This layer will operate at altitudes below 750 kilometres.

It is expected to support some of the system’s most innovative missions and will be interconnected with the rest of the IRIS² architecture.

The Low LEO layer is designed to provide direct connectivity services to mobile devices through Direct-to-Device communications and to support Internet of Things applications.

HispaSat said this represents the future of communications and will open opportunities for European start-ups and SMEs already developing advanced space solutions.

The agreement also gives HispaSat access to non-geostationary orbit communications in regions of high strategic interest.

This will complement the company’s existing geographic coverage and capabilities through its geostationary satellite fleet.

HispaSat has committed to invest up to €600 million in exchange for exploitation rights in regions with strategic and commercial value for its existing business.

Luis Mayo, CEO of HispaSat, said the agreement reached between SpaceRISE, the European Commission and the European Space Agency strengthens the company’s position among the leaders of the European space industry and its main business areas.

He said HispaSat will lead the largest ground segment developed to date in a European Commission programme and secure access to low Earth orbit with high technological and safety standards.

Mayo added that the agreement reinforces HispaSat’s position as a multi-orbit operator and lays the foundation for the company’s future development.

IRIS² forms part of the European space strategy, which is built around three major pillars.

These include Earth observation through Copernicus, navigation and geolocation through Galileo, and secure government communications through IRIS².

The programme is intended to support an interconnected and secure Europe while strengthening European strategic autonomy.

To achieve this, IRIS² will deploy a network of 330 new low Earth orbit satellites and 12 medium Earth orbit satellites.

The funding model is one of the programme’s main innovations.

The three members of the SpaceRISE consortium will jointly contribute up to €4 billion.

This will be combined with €11.6 billion in public investment from the European Commission and ESA, bringing total planned investment to €15.6 billion.

HispaSat’s involvement in IRIS² is also expected to strengthen the Spanish space sector.

The company said its role complements the Spanish government’s recent announcement of a Special Modernization Program with a budget of up to €2 billion to finance additional national contributions and support Spain’s satellite capabilities, including nationwide coverage and defence-related deployments.

Pedro Duque, President of HispaSat, said Spain is making a decisive contribution to Europe’s strategic autonomy in space communications and that HispaSat’s role in IRIS² is evidence of that contribution.

He said the company has been firmly committed from the outset to strengthening secure communications and revitalising Spanish and European industry.

Duque added that IRIS² addresses these needs at a critical geopolitical moment and that HispaSat will work to provide the best possible response.

HispaSat’s leadership in IRIS² is also one of the first examples of the space strategy being developed by Indra Group under the Indra Space brand.

Through this strategy, Indra integrates secure communications, Earth observation and navigation capabilities to address Europe’s security, defence and connectivity needs.

Indra Space is already active in Earth observation through high-resolution radar imagery under the PAZ Programme.

It also enables secure communications for security and defence applications through SpainSat NG I and SpainSat NG III.

In addition, Indra is working on Robust PNT technologies designed to support secure operations by ensuring reliable navigation and time synchronisation even when satellite signals are jammed, attacked or degraded.

Through its role in IRIS², HispaSat is strengthening Indra Group’s space strategy and reinforcing Spain’s participation in the development of critical European space capabilities.

The programme is also expected to enhance the capacity of the Spanish space industry to assume leadership roles in major European projects.

About HispaSat

HispaSat is part of the Indra Group and the Spanish leading satellite operator. It is a member of the European consortium that will develop IRIS2, the European constellation for secure civilian and military communications that will transform space into a critical infrastructure for digital sovereignty, communications resilience, and the strategic autonomy of the European Union. It is committed to helping citizens bridge the digital divide by bringing internet connectivity to remote locations. Its strong presence in Latin America makes it the primary communications bridge between Europe and the Americas. These activities position it as one of the world’s leading companies in its sector in terms of revenue.

About Indra Group

Indra Group (www.indracompany.com) is the foremost Spanish multinational and one of the leading European companies in the areas of defence and advanced digitization. It stands at the forefront of the defence, space, air traffic management, mobility, and transformational technology businesses through Minsait, and it integrates its sovereign AI, cybersecurity, and cyberdefence capabilities into IndraMind. Indra Group is paving the way to a more secure and better-connected future through innovative solutions, trusted relationships, and the very best talent. Sustainability is an integral part of its strategy and culture in order to overcome current and future social and environmental challenges. At the close of the 2025 financial year, Indra Group posted revenues totalling €5.457 billion and had a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in over 140 countries.

Media Contact:

Indra
Toñi García Carballal
magcarballal@indragroup.com
+34 648 10 29 48

Hispasat
Mar Díaz-Varela
+34 629 90 01 19
mdiazvarela@hispasat.com

Víctor Inchausti
+34 667 31 29 48
vinchausti@hispasat.com

SOURCE: Indra Group