STRASBOURG (Reuters) – The European Commission on Tuesday presented a €6 billion satellite communications plan to reduce the EU’s dependence on foreign companies and protect its key communications services and data from monitoring of outside interference.
The move comes amid growing concerns over Chinese and Russian military space advances and an increase in the number of satellite launches.
Commercial operators such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink network, which aims to launch tens of thousands of satellites to provide space Wi-Fi around the world, have also contributed to the rapid growth of the satellite population and, consequently, the debris spatial.
“Our new connectivity infrastructure will provide high-speed internet access, act as a backup internet to our current infrastructure, strengthen our resilience and cybersecurity; and provide connectivity across Europe and Africa,” said Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market.
The EU proposal aims to build and operate a state-of-the-art connectivity space system, provide cybersecurity, help counter electromagnetic threats and improve the resilience of EU telecommunications infrastructure.
The cost of 6 billion euros will be financed by 2.4 billion euros of EU contribution from 2022-2027, the EU budget, the countries of the Union, the European Space Agency and investments private.
The EU intends to launch the program next year.
(Foo Yun Chee report, French version Lou Phily, said by Sophie Louet)