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The satellite connectivity system will allow Europe-wide, secure, high-speed internet access The total cost of the project presented by the European Commission is estimated at €6 billion. /quote]
The European Commission today proposed an ambitious plan for a satellite connectivity system for a secure EU communications system.
According to the Commission, its proposal will ensure the long-term availability of uninterrupted access to secure and cost-effective satellite communications services worldwide. It will also enable the private sector to provide commercial services that can facilitate access to advanced, reliable and fast connections for all citizens and businesses across Europe, even in communications dead zones.
This is one of the objectives of the proposed Digital Decade 2030. The system will also provide connectivity to geographical areas of strategic interest, such as Africa and the Arctic, as part of the EU's Global Gateway strategy. It will be based on the development of innovative and disruptive technologies and exploiting the ecosystem of the New Space programme.
The total cost is estimated at €6 billion. The EU contribution to the programme from 2022 to 2027 amounts to €2.4 billion in current prices. The funding will come from various public sector sources (EU budget, contributions from Member States and the European Space Agency) and private sector investments.
The Commission estimates that this initiative will further enhance the competitiveness of the EU space ecosystem, as the development of new infrastructure will provide a gross added value of €17-24 billion. Citizens will also benefit from the technological advantages, reliability and operational performance of these satellite communications services that ensure high-speed internet connections across the EU."
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said: "The new connectivity infrastructure will give us high-speed internet access, serve as a back-up to our existing internet infrastructure, increase our resilience and cybersecurity and provide connectivity across Europe and Africa. It will be a truly pan-European project that will allow our many start-ups and Europe as a whole to be at the forefront of technological innovation."
In addition, the Commission presented a proposal for space traffic management (satellites, reusable launchers, etc.) to ensure the safe, secure and sustainable use of space for future generations. The aim is to develop concrete initiatives, both operational and legislative, while preserving the EU's strategic autonomy and industrial competitiveness.
The EU already has a Space Surveillance and Monitoring (SST) capability since 2016, implemented by the EU SST consortium. More than 130 European organisations from 23 Member States have so far registered with the EU SST services (for collision avoidance, debris and re-entry of objects into the atmosphere). More than 260 EU satellites, including the Galileo and Copernicus fleets, currently benefit from the collision avoidance service.
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borel, said: "We will develop specific capabilities, define rules and work with key partners and in multilateral fora to ensure the safe, secure and sustainable use of space. Although space traffic management is a civilian effort, European security and defence depends on safe, secure, protected and autonomous access to space."
Source: Proto Thema
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