Iris2 for an interconnected, resilient and inclusive Europe

by Manuela Proietti

Emergency management, control of natural resources and land, environmental monitoring, climate control, air traffic safety management, maritime and rail transport, cartography, precision agriculture, and autonomous driving are just some of the services offered by space systems that are increasingly taking on a strategic value, both for governments and civil society.

It is in this context that the European Union has decided to develop a third flagship program after Galileo and Copernicus, focusing on the new sector of satellite-based telecommunications that goes alongside satellite navigation and Earth observation and is just as strategic. Satellite networks, complementary to terrestrial networks, can contribute to providing a continuous flow of digital data, which is a key capability in handling crisis situations or responding to disasters when a secure and seamless exchange of information is required by the relevant authorities.

To date, satellite-based communication services in the EU for governmental users are delivered by a small number of geostationary satellites, controlled by a few Member Countries, which the EU is trying to federate under the Govsatcom (Government Satellite Communication) program. However, this infrastructure only covers the continental part of the Union but not the rest of the world and is mainly designed for military purposes, a characteristic that does not always make it compatible with civil applications.

The exploitation of satellite technology for telecommunications is a controversial issue on a global level: in addition to the EU, several players are investing in this capability, as it is discussed in another feature of this Spazio 2050 issue. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the European Commission presented a proposal to improve the resilience of EU communication services on February 15, 2022. It’s a project designed to develop a multi-orbital connectivity infrastructure, consisting of both space and ground segments and based on a public partnership model.

It will be called Iris2, an acronym for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, whose ambition is to offer secure, continuous, broadband communications across the pla- net. The program involves the construction, launch, and operation of a complex constellation of up to 170 satellites, operating in low, medium, and geostationary orbit. Moreover, a series of ground stations are included in the program and they will be located in several EU countries. The goal is to provide enhanced, secure communication capabilities to governmental users by 2025 and to business users by 2027. The program is also meant to have an important impact on the EU economy and society. According to the EU's vision, the development of the Iris2 infrastructure will foster innovation and inclusion, encourage the participation of new investors in the space sector, such as small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, and create new opportunities for women in space-related sectors.

The Parliament has placed special emphasis on the sustainability of program-related activities, calling, for example, on entrepreneurs engaged in developing the infrastructure to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and implement plans to reduce space debris.

Another crucial issue will be the implementation of new technologies to enhance EU cybersecurity. The EuroQci, the European infrastructure for quantum communication, which will be discussed in the next feature, is going to be a key resource of Iris2. Quantum cryptography will enable the transmission and exchange of sensitive data while guaranteeing unprecedented security standards.

According to the European Parliament, it is also crucial for the program to help bridge the EU's digital divide reaching out to remote and outermost regions to improve broadband Internet access.

The new satellite constellation also aims to increase the strategic autonomy of the Union, supporting its competitive edge in industry and science, as well as its ability to access and operate in space.

The program received final approval from the Council on March 7, with the EU allocating a EUR 2.4 billion budget. The project will be led by the EU Space Program Agency - EUSPA - with the support of a number of partners including Member States, the European Space Agency, and private companies.

Italy through ASI is involved in the management of Iris2 according to the comitology foreseen for the EU space program. It is scheduled to participate in the EU Space Committee in Govsatcom configuration. Furthermore, the Italian Space Agency is engaged in the management of the optional ESA Program Related to the EU Secure Connectivity, having signed it during the Council at Ministerial Level in November 2022.

Alice sends Bob a sequence of bits, each of which is encoded in the polarization of a photon passing through one of two possible polarization filters: horizontal-vertical or diagonal. If Bob chooses to measure the polarization using the same basis for the filter, then he will be able to decode the bit, which will make up the cryptographic key.