INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY

SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY

members. Revenues generated from the additional capacity are estimated at more than € 10 billion between 2032 and 2040.

The first Ka-only satellites are scheduled for launch from 2029, while the commercial Ku LEO constellation is expected to become fully operational by mid-2032.

Eutelsat also plans to extend OneWeb through 2034 by deploying another 229 satellites in addition to 440 GEN1 satellites already procured, representing investment of around € 1 billion. Its capital expenditure plan remains unchanged through FY 2029.

The programme combines an inclined orbital architecture with beamforming antennas and 5G NTN, enabling capacity to be directed dynamically to areas where demand is greatest. Eutelsat said this would deliver higher throughput, improved service quality and more efficient use of network resources.

Fiber-optic inter-satellite links will strengthen resilience, extend service availability and reduce reliance on ground infrastructure, supporting governments, enterprises, mobility and mission-critical applications. The constellation will also support smaller, lighter and more affordable user terminals, widening access to high-performance satellite connectivity.

The milestone moves IRIS ² from programme definition into execution, with manufacturing, system integration and infrastructure deployment accelerating across Europe. Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space and Aerospacelab will provide manufacturing capacity for the LEO constellation, reinforcing Europe’ s industrial and technological base.

Eutelsat will lead the Low Earth Orbit segment, drawing on its experience in systems engineering and operating largescale constellations. It will design, deploy and operate the IRIS ² LEO constellation, comprising 264 dual Mil-Ka / Ku-band satellites and 66 Mil-Ka-band satellites.

The expanded programme will see Eutelsat invest € 2.23 billion in shared IRIS ² infrastructure and another € 1.16 billion in commercial infrastructure, including Ku payload and commercial ground systems. Investment will be phased from 2027 to 2034.

In return, Eutelsat expects access to more than twice the capacity currently available through OneWeb. It will also share fixedcost and research and development advantages with other SpaceRISE

Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, said:“ Reaching this milestone is a defining moment for Eutelsat and for Europe’ s space ambitions. We are now moving from planning to execution, with a clear focus on delivering a worldclass sovereign, secure and resilient connectivity infrastructure. The additional public and private investment agreed today strengthens the programme with greater capacity, resilience and flexibility to meet Europe’ s future connectivity and security needs. Eutelsat is proud to lead the deployment and operation of the IRIS ² LEO constellation, building on the proven operational experience of OneWeb to ensure a seamless transition for our customers while reinforcing Europe’ s technological leadership and strategic autonomy for decades to come.”

The project also firmly secures the longterm development of Eutelsat’ s LEO roadmap beyond OneWeb replenishment, supporting enhanced connectivity services through 2040. The IRIS ² architecture is intended to provide greater flexibility for government and commercial requirements while strengthening European control over critical communications infrastructure. Eutelsat said the programme remains consistent with its financial framework. •

32

INTELLIGENT CIO EUROPE www. intelligentcio. com