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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team<\/a> and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Poland has joined a European Union project developing a secure satellite internet service that would provide an alternative to networks such as Elon Musk\u2019s Starlink.<\/p>\n Warsaw has committed \u20ac656 million (2.8 billion zloty) to the IRIS\u00b2 programme, with the money coming from Poland\u2019s EU post-pandemic recovery funds<\/a>.<\/p>\n In return for joining the project, Poland will gain access to the secure satellite communications network for government institutions, the armed forces and emergency services, while the growing Polish space industry will be eligible to compete for contracts linked to the development of the constellation<\/p>\n Today Poland\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1joins the EU\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfaspace programme #IRIS<\/a>\u00b2\u00a0w\/additional \u20ac656 mln.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1 is on a remarkable space journey to build a strong space economy & secure connectivity for the defence of Poland, the Eastern Flank & \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa.\u00a0<\/p>\n IRIS\u00b2\u00a0brings greater unity & strength for the entire Europe. pic.twitter.com\/TwS59vpXtm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Andrius Kubilius (@KubiliusA) July 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a big day for Poland, the eastern flank and the entire European Union,\u201d declared the EU\u2019s defence and space commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, at a signing ceremony in Warsaw on Tuesday. \u201cBy investing in space, Poland is investing in its security, its economy and its future.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking alongside him, Poland\u2019s interior minister, Marcin Kierwi\u0144ski, said that IRIS\u00b2 would help \u201censure our security and strategic independence\u201d while \u201cdemonstrating that Poland aims to be a leader in the European space industry and remain at the centre of EU security efforts\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cNo single country is able to build such a [satellite] constellation so efficiently, which is why we are joining this major project \u2013 to be part of it and one of its managers,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The IRIS\u00b2 programme aims to deploy a constellation of nearly 300 satellites in low and medium Earth orbit, providing encrypted, interference-resistant communications for governments, defence agencies, emergency services and selected commercial users across the EU.<\/p>\n First announced in 2022, the project is part of the EU\u2019s efforts to reduce dependence on non-European satellite operators amid growing concerns over cybersecurity, hybrid threats and the resilience of critical infrastructure following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is super important for Europe to have a sovereign capacity, and Starlink will never do that,\u201d said Eva Berneke, CEO of Eutelsat, one of the companies involved in the project, quoted by\u00a0Politico Europe.<\/p>\n The project is expected to cost \u20ac10.6 billion, including \u20ac6.5 billion in public funding and around \u20ac4 billion from private investors. IRIS\u00b2 is expected to become operational in 2030.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa The IRIS program is Europe’s replacement for Starlink. The constellation will consist of over 300 satellites to serve Europe alone. Security and sovereignty! Like Galileo, it could surpass its US counterpart. Fewer satellites, smarter coverage. Eventually more could be added pic.twitter.com\/Uswmuotw7F<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mariska den Eelden \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1 (@eeldenden) February 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n As part of its contribution to IRIS\u00b2, Poland will finance six large satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO) and six smaller satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).<\/p>\n It\u00a0will also build a ground gateway station in Warsaw to connect the satellites with GovNet, the country\u2019s secure government fibre-optic communications network.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the Polish government approved the use of money from its share of the EU\u2019s post-pandemic reconstruction fund to cover its contribution to IRIS\u00b2.<\/p>\n Si\u0119gamy gwiazd!! Polska przyst\u0119puje do europejskiego programu budowy bezpiecznej \u0142\u0105czno\u015bci satelitarnej \ud83d\udef0\ufe0f\ud83d\udce1! W ten spos\u00f3b zaspokoimy wszystkie potrzeby \u0142\u0105czno\u015bci s\u0142u\u017cb i administracji pa\u0144stwowej. IRIS\u00b2 zapewni nam bezpiecze\u0144stwo i niezale\u017cno\u015b\u0107. Dzi\u0119kuj\u0119 @KubiliusA<\/a> za wsp\u00f3\u0142prac\u0119 pic.twitter.com\/c8u2QH0Wyn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Marcin Kierwi\u0144ski (@MKierwinski) July 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Once the system is up and running, Poland\u2019s police, border guards and other emergency services would be able to use the network during natural disasters, power outages and other emergencies when terrestrial communications infrastructure is unavailable.<\/p>\n The system would also make it possible to provide temporary connectivity for civilians through emergency hotspots, says Poland\u2019s interior ministry.<\/p>\n Polish companies will now also be able to compete for contracts covering satellite manufacturing, telecommunications equipment, software and ground infrastructure, expanding the country\u2019s role in Europe\u2019s space industry.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is estimated that each zloty invested in the project will generate a five-zloty return through new jobs, innovation and the development of domestic technologies,\u201d the ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n Warsaw has been chosen as the location for a new European Space Agency security centre, as Poland takes another step in its ambitions to become a bigger player in the space sector<\/p>\n The facility will be the @esa<\/a>‘s first outside its 11 founding member states https:\/\/t.co\/WnHIbrW3ze<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Notes from Poland \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1 (@notesfrompoland) July 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Poland has\u00a0placed great emphasis on developing its space industry<\/a>\u00a0in recent years, with the aim of becoming a major European player in the sector.<\/p>\n Last week, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it will open a new security centre in Warsaw<\/a>. One of its areas of operation will be satellite communication, including the use of satellite imagery to monitor critical incidents such as natural disasters.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Donald Tusk also revealed\u00a0that Poland and the ESA are working on the first Polish spacecraft, which would provide servicing, refuelling and other services for satellites<\/p>\n Last year, Poland launched its first national military satellite<\/a>. A Polish firm, Creotech Instruments,\u00a0signed Poland\u2019s largest ever contract<\/a>\u00a0with the ESA, a \u20ac52 million deal to build and launch a constellation of Earth observation satellites.<\/p>\n Astronaut @astro_slawosz<\/a>‘s recent trip to the International Space Station highlighted the Polish space industry’s growing importance.<\/p>\n Once limited to making components for others, Poland is now building its own spacecraft and participating in\u00a0missions https:\/\/t.co\/TmQiD91IzZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Notes from Poland \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1 (@notesfrompoland) October 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Main image credit: MSWiA\u00a0<\/a>(under\u00a0CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 PL<\/a>)<\/p>\n Alicja Ptak is deputy editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She has written for Clean Energy Wire and The Times, and she hosts her own podcast, The Warsaw Wire, on Poland\u2019s economy and energy sector. She previously worked\u00a0for\u00a0Reuters.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team<\/a> and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alicja_Ptak_Square.jpeg\")
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