In advanced talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX concerning encryption systems for government communications via the Starlink satellite network, might a pact conflict with the country’s strong agreement to the EU’s emerging IRIS² being launched in 2029?
At Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The Italian government’s representative publicly stated that no contracts were approved with SpaceX following the recent meeting.
However, its recognition of ongoing discussions has triggered worries among industry insiders and politicians, particularly considering Italy’s involvement in the EU development of the rival satellite network, IRIS², slated to launch in 2029.
The European Commission informed Euronews that Italy’s potential participation in Starlink is a matter for national consideration, and EU member states can participate in IRIS² and enter into further agreements at a national level.
“Italy will undoubtedly be included in the IRIS² project,” commented a Commission spokesperson.
As of now, our current state of knowledge
Initially, the country’s commitment to the EU-led IRIS² project has been put into question.
“Discussions with SpaceX are part of the regular meetings that the state departments have with companies,” Giorgia Meloni’s office said in a statement.
Musk emphasized excitement for partnership, tweeting that SpaceX is “prepared to offer Italy the most secure and advanced connectivity”.
Already active in Italy since 2021, Starlink currently serves approximately 50,000 customers and is poised to expand its services to include emergencies, such as disasters or terrorist attacks.
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is also working on a project named Starshield, focused on defence and sensitive operations. Italian security minister Guido Crosetto defended Musk’s involvement in the project during a parliamentary hearing, citing the company’s significant role in providing low-Earth orbit connectivity as a key reason for his partnership.
“It will still be 10–15 years until Europe has an alternative system,” Crosetto said.
The European project
The European Union’s IRIS² project, an 11 billion euro undertaking, plans to establish a secure, multi-orbital satellite network for EU governments and companies.
Scheduled to begin operations in 2030, it is intended to decrease dependence on non-EU organizations like SpaceX run by Elon Musk or Kuiper by Jeff Bezos.
“We cannot afford to be excessively reliant on countries or companies outside the European Union in times of crisis,” said Andrius Kubilius at the signing of the 12-year concession contract for IRIS² in mid-December.
Kubilius, the EU Defence and Space Commissioner, described IRIS² as a “paradigm shift for Europe” that will explicitly contribute to the security and defense needs of EU member states, as it will also allow for secure military communications in the future.
Italy might face the risk of duplicated services if it proceeds with both Starlink and IRIS².
Consequences for Italy
SpaceX energizes current technological capabilities, yet Italy assumes a notable part in developing IRIS², a prestigious satellite project undertaken by the European Union.
Italy will be the home of the main operations centre for IRIS², located at its central Fucino Space Centre. The Fucino Space Centre is already one of the world’s largest civil space centres and currently manages the European Galileo satellite navigation system.
It is scheduled to undergo a €50 million expansion to support IRIS², creating 200 new positions and further solidifying Italy’s position in European space infrastructure.
In addition to these developments, Italian aerospace companies, including Leonardo, play a significant role in contributing to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) technology for launching satellites. Leonardo’s subsidiary, Avio, is not only the main contractor responsible for producing the Vega-C launcher but also plans to deploy its successor, Vega-E, for IRIS² missions between 2027 and 2028.
Despite these strategic investments, some EU lawmakers have expressed uncertainty regarding the possibility of an agreement between Italy and SpaceX.
“A Made-in-Italy satellite deal shouldn’t have the signature of Elon Musk,” stated EU Parliamentarian Christophe Grudler (Renew Europe/France) on platform X.
He contended that the EU’s GovSatCom programme, launching this year, provides a more cohesive framework for pooling satellite capacity among Italy, France, Luxembourg, Greece, and Spain.
Broader Implications for Europe
A major concern is the possible disclosure of sensitive Italian data to SpaceX, which could have significant repercussions for European security and defense.
Apart from the potential for duplicated services for Italy if it progresses with both Starlink and IRIS², critics also caution about economic implications.
Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in his competitiveness report that Starlink’s rapid expansion has disrupted European telecommunications operators and satellite manufacturers.
The report has pointed out that the European Union has fallen behind in leadership in commercial launchers and geostationary satellites, and is also trailing the US in key space-related markets, including rocket propulsion, large-scale satellite clusters, and satellite uses.
As the debate continues, Italy’s decision would have a significant effect on its own space technology path, potentially also leading to far-reaching consequences for the EU’s goals of gaining greater control in space exploration.
