Enhancing EU secure communications in space
Faced with increasing geopolitical and cybersecurity threats, it is imperative for the EU to have a sovereign, space-based secure connectivity system.
Building on its strong experience with Galileo and Copernicus, the JRC now actively supports the EU space programme’s third pillar for secure connectivity — the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²).
The concession agreement for the development, deployment and operation of IRIS² was signed in December 2024.
The JRC’s contributions to IRIS² include technical analysis, definition of mission requirements, and the launch of new testing facilities.
Impact on the economy
Helps protect against cybersecurity threats and supports EU strategic autonomy.
Together we will build a quantum connection between our national institute INRIM and the JRC. The expertise and role of JRC will lead to a further development of the Italian Quantum Backbone – a key infrastructure delivering precise atomic time, allowing secure and reliable communication for space and security applications
Provides technical support to IRIS2
The EU’s IRIS² is a strategic asset to achieve space sovereignty in the face of commercial satellite constellations, such as Starlink. IRIS² has been conceived as a public-private partnership with financial support from the EU, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the industry consortium SpaceRISE (Space Consortium for a Resilient, Interconnected and Secure Europe). When it reaches its full operational capacity by the end of 2030, this multi-orbital constellation will comprise approximately 300 satellites deployed in low-Earth and medium-Earth orbits to provide worldwide space-based secure connectivity services to governmental and commercial users. IRIS² will also integrate governmental capacity from geostationary satellites already deployed by EU Member States as part of the EU Governmental Satellite Communications programme.
Since 2022, the JRC has supported the DG for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), ESA and the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in the definition of the IRIS² mission requirements and the technical negotiations with the SpaceRISE industry consortium selected to build, deploy and operate the IRIS² system. It also participated in the Tender Evaluation Committee for the IRIS² concession agreement as an expert member. The JRC has been a key contributor to the technical analysis on the adoption of 5G non-terrestrial network standards for IRIS².
Following the signing of the IRIS² concession agreement in 2024, the JRC will continue working together with DG DEFIS, ESA and EUSPA in the implementation of the IRIS² programme in the coming years. Support activities will primarily focus on contributions to the IRIS² technical specifications, the development of 5G communications standards for IRIS² and collaborating with ESA and SpaceRISE in technical reviews during the development and deployment of the IRIS² system.
Supports quantum for space
Quantum technologies are gaining prominence in the context of space applications. To ensure that EU policymaking decisions are scientifically informed, the JRC carries out studies on selected quantum technology topics, studying the technology principles, practice, use-cases, applications and products.
Will host a new research lab
As part of the JRC’s support to IRIS², a new experimental research infrastructure will be set up — the JRC Digital Connectivity Lab. This new research facility will encompass all of the JRC’s experimental activities on satellite navigation and space/terrestrial connectivity.
It will also enable the testing of quantum key distribution technologies and services that are to be assessed and validated for certification so that users can be confident that these will not be vulnerable to attacks.
The JRC Digital Connectivity Lab will be hosted at the JRC’s Ispra site, with the start of operational activities planned for 2025. This research facility will also be connected to Italy's quantum backbone network for receiving quantum and timing signals.
Davide Calonico from Italy’s national metrological research institute (INRIM) explains the importance of this development in his quote. The connection to the Italian quantum backbone and the testing lab for quantum communications equipment will be part of the European Quantum Communications Infrastructure, which is planned to be integrated with IRIS².