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28/11/2025
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In a time of profound technological and geopolitical challenges, Europe will continue to support the need for secure satellite communications. This was the clear message given at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Council meeting at Ministerial Level, in Bremen, Germany.
This landmark decision will see ESA contributing to Europe’s innovation, resilience and connectivity within the satellite telecommunications sector. The subscriptions will enable small and large companies across Europe and Canada to advance their competitiveness and respond to global challenges and opportunities.
Over the past decades, ESA has elevated satellite connectivity by investing in pioneering ideas and technologies. Building upon this success, the continuation and growth of the programmes will further Europe’s and Canada’s competitiveness and strengthen our Members States’ leadership. By working in partnership with industry and academia, ESA will accelerate the delivery of advanced technology, products and services.
Our Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme turns ideas into fully-fledged products, systems and services. The programme provides European and Canadian industry with the capacity to respond rapidly to global market and security challenges.
ARTES has enabled technologies to develop and companies to mitigate the inherent risk of innovation before entering the satellite communications market. From optical and quantum communications to space-based 5G connectivity, ESA has supported ground-breaking technology and talent.
With the current subscription for ARTES, we will continue to support European leadership in the GEO market through the HummingSat and Novacom projects. We will be able to deliver on optical and quantum communications, key technologies to further our autonomy and resilience. Our project HydRON will establish a true “internet of space” and further expand our network of optical ground stations. We will also advance secure communications through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with our projects SAGA (supporting the European Union’s EuroQCI initiative), Eagle-1 and its follow-on Eagle neXt, and QKDSat.
In addition, we will continue developing 5G connectivity, investing in solutions that provide seamless connectivity by integrating ground and satellite networks. This will reinforce Europe’s position and offer an opportunity to step up our involvement in the direct-to-device revolution.
Our work on secure connectivity will extend to the fields of aviation, maritime operations, and cybersecurity. Significantly improving European air traffic management through Iris Global will deliver greener, safer, and more efficient air traffic management. Additionally, we will implement space capabilities to safeguard the radio-frequency spectrum from harmful interference.
ESA programme related to EU Secure Connectivity – IRIS2
Among uncertainties and global challenges, faster and more reliable connectivity is becoming imperative. The European Union’s third flagship space programme, IRIS2, aims to strengthen Europe’s essential communications services. It will also support a wide range of essential services, from government-authorised secure connectivity to commercial solutions. ESA will qualify and validate the development of this new multi-orbital satellite constellation, led by the SpaceRISE industrial consortium.
The evolution of IRIS2 will become the communication backbone for ESA’s European Resilience from Space initiative, a component of a multi-domain system of systems bringing together Earth Observation and Navigation. This will improve our ability to mitigate and manage emergencies and use the most advanced space assets for near real-time critical operations to better serve the needs of European citizens and governments.
Multiple screens with Strategy 2040 Goals
Moonlight is ESA’s programme to extend communications and navigation coverage around the Moon. It’s a multi-directorate initiative that will enable the hundreds of planned lunar missions to investigate and stay on the Moon, complementing connectivity from Earth. This year’s subscription will allow Moonlight to continue on the path to turn Europe into a first mover and global leader in lunar communication and navigation.
Laurent Jaffart, Director of ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications said: “During CM25, key decisions were made that will shape ESA’s activities in response to Europe’s ever-growing need for reliable, resilient, and secure connectivity. Our vision is to connect everyone, everything, everywhere and at all times. With a subscription of over €2 billion, I look forward to continuing to work with our Member States, European Commission and partners – as together – we realise our leadership, autonomy, and competitiveness in the satellite communications domain.”
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