A space center in the heart of Italy is set to host the main control site for the IRIS² EU satellite constellation, Italy’s industry minister announced on Monday.
The Fucino Space Center, one of the world’s largest teleport sites for civilian use, will be widened to include control operations for IRIS², Adolfo Urso told reporters at a conference.
The center already manages the European satellite positioning and navigation system Galileo.
IRIS² is designed to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Kuiper.
It is an array of up to 170 satellites that will secure communications for European Union governments and open new commercial broadband services to underserved areas between 2025 and 2027.
The deal will be formally announced by the European Commission in the coming days, Urso said. He added that two other centers will be located in Toulouse, France, and Luxembourg.
Urso said that 50 million euros (USD 54.25 million) would be invested and 200 new jobs would be created at the Fucino center.
The center is owned by Telespazio, jointly controlled by Italy’s Leonardo with a 67% stake and France’s Thales with the remaining 33%.
The center already manages the European satellite positioning and navigation system Galileo.
IRIS² is designed to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Kuiper.
It is an array of up to 170 satellites that will secure communications for European Union governments and open new commercial broadband services to underserved areas between 2025 and 2027.
The deal will be formally announced by the European Commission in the coming days, Urso said. He added that two other centers will be located in Toulouse, France, and Luxembourg.
Urso said that 50 million euros (USD 54.25 million) would be invested and 200 new jobs would be created at the Fucino center.
The center is owned by Telespazio, jointly controlled by Italy’s Leonardo with a 67% stake and France’s Thales with the remaining 33%.
Source: Reuters
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