The European Union (EU) is planning to develop a multibillion-dollar network of satellites aimed at competing with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The European Commission signed a concession contract on Monday to begin building the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²), a multi-orbital constellation of 290 satellites intended to provide encrypted global internet connectivity, according to a press release. The network is expected to provide services beginning in 2030 and will cost approximately $11.13 billion.
The EU is producing IRIS² to “avoid creating new technological dependencies,” a European Commission spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. The European Commission described IRIS² as “a significant step towards Europe’s sovereignty and secure connectivity,” according to the press release.
“IRIS² is not…