Deutsche Telekom, SES and Eutelsat Back EU’s IRIS²
Deutsche Telekom has joined the SpaceRISE consortium to play a pivotal role in the European Union’s IRIS² satellite initiative, a programme designed to transform Europe’s digital infrastructure.
IRIS², short for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security via Satellite, is set to address urgent security, resilience and digital sovereignty challenges by deploying a new generation of satellite connectivity across the continent.
SpaceRISE Consortium: a pan-European collaboration
SpaceRISE brings together leading satellite operators SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat alongside Deutsche Telekom and other key subcontractors from across the Satcom ecosystem.
The consortium is tasked with designing, delivering and operating the IRIS² system, ensuring the highest standards for a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The partnership is a robust public-private venture, with the European Commission, European Space Agency (ESA) and private sector investors collectively committing more than US$11.4bn to the project.
Deutsche Telekom’s role: advanced infrastructure and secure networks
Deutsche Telekom’s contribution will focus on designing ground infrastructure, advanced IT and data centre services, secure wide-area networks (WAN) and a 5G core network.
As Europe’s leading telecommunications provider, it is central to delivering the land-based backbone supporting IRIS²’s ambitious satellite operations.
Claudia Nemat, Board Member for Technology & Innovation at Deutsche Telekom, highlighted: “Our continent needs connectivity that is both secure and modern. With IRIS², we achieve exactly that and strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty. Telekom is contributing to the cross-border digital infrastructure of tomorrow, always with the focus on people.”
A multi-orbital satellite network for resilience and reach
The IRIS² constellation will comprise 282 satellites, with 264 in low Earth orbit (LEO) providing primary communication services and 18 in medium Earth orbit (MEO) delivering global coverage and dedicated services.
The system is engineered to support various applications, from surveillance and crisis management to protecting critical infrastructure and national security.
Notably, IRIS² will deliver high-speed broadband to B2B customers, bridging connectivity gaps in both rural and urban areas and supporting mass-market applications such as mobile and fixed broadband satellite access, trunking for enterprise networks and satellite-enabled cloud services.
Driving European sovereignty and security
The European Union has positioned IRIS² as a cornerstone of its digital autonomy strategy. It aims to reduce reliance on external infrastructure and bolster resilience against emerging cyber and hybrid threats.
The system will leverage quantum cryptography and a secure-by-design approach, setting a new benchmark for secure satellite communications in Europe.
“The project aims to build a powerful, secure and independent communication network. Above all, however, the satellite constellation strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty. Deutsche Telekom will support the project with its role as the leading telecommunications company in Europe.”
The European Commission signed the concession contract with SpaceRISE in December 2024, initiating a 12-year public-private partnership.
Services are scheduled to go live by 2030, with the EU as the anchor customer and funding drawn from both public and private sources. Future investment beyond 2027 will depend on adopting successor programmes by the European Parliament and Council.
IRIS² is expected to transform Europe’s resilience, digital sovereignty and low-latency connectivity for all EU Member States. The project will enable telecom operators and enterprise customers to thrive in a digitally connected Europe by providing secure, high-speed satellite broadband.
A new era for European telecoms
Deutsche Telekom’s involvement in IRIS² demonstrates the growing importance of secure, resilient and sovereign digital infrastructure.
As Europe prepares for the next wave of digital transformation, IRIS² will provide the backbone for secure communications, critical infrastructure protection and ubiquitous broadband, empowering telecom operators and enterprise customers across the European continent.
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