EU launches IRIS² satellite network to replace Starlink dependence by 2029

The European Union is developing its own secure satellite network, IRIS², to reduce reliance on private providers like Elon Musk's Starlink, with first launches scheduled for 2029. This follows recent restrictions on Starlink's military service that disrupted Ukrainian operations. Ukraine has depended heavily on Starlink and its military-grade Starshield for communications since Russia's invasion, but a recent outage caused lost drones and alarmed officials. Polish minister Radoslaw Sikorski publicly criticized Musk, while the EU's IRIS² network will include 348 satellites for government and defense use. Starshield is controlled by the US government, raising questions about Ukraine's access to military capabilities. IRIS² aims to strengthen European digital sovereignty by providing secure communications independent of non-EU infrastructure, with services expected to become available gradually from 2029 or 2030.