As of: February 16, 2024, 10:47 a.m
By: Lars-Eric Nievelstein
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Elon Musk's “Starlink” provides internet to half the world.
Now the EU wants to follow suit.
The “IRIS2” project is intended to strengthen Europe’s position in space – Germany plays this role in this.
Brussels – The space industry is changing.
According to Marco Fuchs, CEO of satellite manufacturer OHB, the industry is doing “well, very well” and numerous new competitors have expanded the market.
At the EU level, the time seems to have come for a major joint project.
“IRIS2” is intended to answer the demand for secure connections and higher bandwidth.
One problem: Germany could take on a much larger role.
IRIS2 – the answer to the growing need for hyperconnectivity
“Our world is moving into a new digital era.
Our economy and security are increasingly dependent on secure and resilient connectivity.” This is how the European Commission explained the need for the IRIS2 project.
IRIS2 (short for 'Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite') is a new secure interconnection system deployed in space.
Specifically, it is a (still theoretical) satellite network that is intended to support European governments in a range of tasks.
For example:
Border control
Crisis management
Monitoring of geo-data
Secure communication (e.g. in European embassies)
Rocket launch at night on Camp Canaveral.
The “IRIS2” project is intended to strengthen Europe’s position in space.
© IMAGO / ZUMA Wire Joshua Conti/Ussf
Although IRIS2 is often compared to the US Starlink, there are some serious differences.
It is primarily about Europe's independence: the satellites are used exclusively for European interests.
According to the EU Commission, IRIS2 is intended to be a “space-based pillar” for a digital, resilient and secure Europe.
It is also intended to promote European competition and the further development of society.
German participation in IRIS2
To explain the extent to which Germany is involved in the project, it is worth taking a look at the development process.
According to the
Handelsblatt
, an industrial consortium will soon submit a binding offer on the technical design of IRIS2, so it is taking the lead.
In addition to satellite manufacturers such as Eutelsat and Hispasat, the French technology group Thales and Airbus (which is partly German) are also represented in this consortium.
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The European Union wants to use various tenders to determine which companies from which countries are involved in IRIS2 and to what extent.
The first tender, which concerned the hardware, has already taken place.
According to insider information, the German satellite manufacturer OHB (one of Europe's largest space companies) and Deutsche Telekom, for example, were awarded the contract.
Nevertheless, Germany has not reached the quota applicable to other EU projects, which has caused a certain degree of excitement among some representatives of business and politics - at least reported the
Handelsblatt
.
“The participation of German industry must urgently be clarified”
For example, the tender brought the Federation of German Industries (BDI) into action.
Matthias Wachter, the federal space commissioner, said that German industry “should play a leading role in the development of IRIS2 with its expertise and its foreseeable need for connectivity solutions.” In December, the Ministry of Economic Affairs even sent an incendiary letter addressed to the executing companies .
“The participation of German industry and its share in value creation must urgently be clarified,” she demanded.
The idea for a European satellite network is said to have been borne by Thierry Breton, who is currently the EU Internal Market Commissioner - and also has "close connections" to the French Minister of Economic Affairs Bruno Le Maire.
“One must not forget that Breton is French,”
Handelsblatt
quotes Johann-Dietrich Wörner, President of the German Academy of Technical Sciences.
“Even if that shouldn’t really play a role in an EU commissioner’s office.”
Germany's hour has come when it comes to software - but politics needs a common line
However, this view ignores the fact that tenders are still outstanding.
For example, a representative of the space industry said in response to an
IPPEN
request that the great strength of German space companies lies in software.
For example, it's about services for satellite use, cloud applications, data processing.
German companies are particularly strong in this regard – there are “high hopes” of getting on board.
However, the prerequisite for this is that German politicians give concrete thought to which aspects of the IRIS2 functionality they want to use.
Border protection is one thing, the Ministry of the Environment could be interested in geodata, the Ministry of the Interior has a need for the police - but the federal government lacks a common line on what should be ordered from IRIS2.
“If that were to happen, it would be much easier to create a pitch and then win that pitch,” said the industry representative.
According to current status, it is planned that the first IRIS2 services will be delivered as early as 2024.
IRIS2 is expected to reach full performance by 2027.