The European Union will have its own internet satellites: constellation operational by 2027

Even the European Union will have a constellation of internet satellites , the Parliament and the Council have reached an agreement. The project calls for the launch of 170 satellites into low orbit with service activation expected by the end of 2027.

The plan was announced for the first time last February and the process that will lead to the launch of the first satellites will still be quite long. In this way, the EU is in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink service .

The project has the clear purpose of decreasing the digital divide, bringing high-performance internet connections even to remote areas, currently not reached by traditional network infrastructures. The infrastructure is from the European Union, but the services will probably be provided by local telcos. The European Union also intends to reduce the dependence on non-European companies in such a strategic sector as that of telecommunications . Not only that: the European Union is also thinking about the possibility of being able to guarantee the continuity of communications and the Internet in the event of serious emergencies that could jeopardize the integrity of the cable network infrastructure.

Moreover, one day EU satellites could also bring the internet to some countries of the African continent, today under the influence of China. The launch of the first satellites – and the start of the first testing phase – is scheduled for the end of 2023.