EU launches its competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink

Great news for digital nomads planning to work remotely from Europe. The European Union has just unveiled IRIS²—the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite—a bold initiative to build its own satellite network and rival Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Scheduled to launch by 2030, the project aims to deliver secure, high-speed internet connectivity across Europe. It will feature 290 satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Unlike Starlink, which has launched over 7,000 low-Earth satellites since 2018 to achieve global coverage and low latency, IRIS² will achieve connectivity with fewer satellites by leveraging interlinked orbits for efficiency.

With a €10.6 billion ($11 billion) budget, the initiative combines €6.5 billion in public funds—backed by the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA)—and €4.1 billion from private investors.

IRIS² is designed to handle secure communications for EU governments—bolstering defense, border surveillance, crisis response, and critical infrastructure protection.

For the private sector and individuals, it promises high-speed broadband, targeting underserved areas across Europe.

More than connectivity, IRIS² is about cutting Europe’s reliance on foreign satellite networks. Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, made it clear:

“We cannot afford to be too dependent on countries or companies from outside the European Union.”

Other key leaders have emphasized IRIS²’s importance. Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, stated:

“Today we are not just launching a satellite project. We are launching a vision—a stronger, more connected, and more resilient Europe.”

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Written by Irene Lidia Wang

UX Designer and digital nomad. After struggling with feelings of not belonging due to her Italian-Chinese heritage, she co-founded Freaking Nomads to offer a space for people seeking their own paths.

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