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[To Eurosmart members only]
EU plans on establishing an EU Space-based Global Secure Connectivity System
The European Commission unveiled a roadmap for the establishment of an EU Space-based Global Secure Connectivity System. The Commission lays out different options and receives views on these options until 23 September.
Background
The European Commission explains that “the EU lacks autonomous, secure, resilient, high-speed and ubiquitous connectivity to cover European governmental, commercial and citizens’ needs”. It further underlines that there are rising threats and insufficient capabilities for secure telecommunications.
Foreign competitors (China, Russia) already announced government-backed global space infrastructures. The EU runs the risk of falling behind in technological developments and could find itself being excessively reliant on “non-EU connectivity solutions with fewer security assurances”.
In addition, the European Commission notes that some areas of the EU are still poorly connected, in particular rural areas.
Policy options
These are the different options envisaged by the European Commission:
0. Baseline: No additional EU action would take place beyond what is currently foreseen in the EU Space Regulation. Member States having satellite communication capabilities would continue using them for their own security domains (in case of governmental service), and part of the EU governmental services would be provided by the GOVSATCOM component of the EU Space Regulation.
1. EU-owned space infrastructure: A dedicated space and ground infrastructure is developed, operated and fully owned by the Union and potentially Member States. Connectivity services are provided by an EU body or delegated entities, with possible retail commercialisation agreements to address private users. The approach resembles that used for setting up Copernicus and Galileo under the EU Space Programme.
2. Fully private infrastructure: The system conception and deployment, its operations, maintenance and the provision of services would be entirely left to commercial operators. For the core public secure connectivity services, the EU would act as public anchor tenant, federating the needs of EU and Member States public stakeholders for secure satellite services and thereby creating a critical demand mass.
3a. Public-Private Partnership - Concession: The investment required for system conception and deployment is ensured by a Public-Private Partnership, with a combination of EU funds, Member States funds, and private investments. The operations are ensured by a concessionaire who takes the commercial and operational risk, in particular for commercial services. The EU would commit to appropriate long-term service payments to cover the demand of EU institutions and Member States regarding public secure satellite services.
3b. Public-Private Partnership – Availability model: The investment required for system conception and deployment is fully ensured by a private sector contractor. The EU would commit to long term availability payments regarding the use of the system, complemented by start-up payments during the construction and deployment phase. Tailored incentive schemes would reward compliance with the availability, quality, performance and security requirements of the EU and Member States. Outside of the reserved capacity for use by the EU and Member States, the contractor could be tasked to market services to public, commercial and private customers with the revenues subject to a profit-sharing approach.
4. Purchase of a minority stake in one of the non-EU constellations being built: A Public-Private Partnership, with a combination of EU funds, Member States funds and EU private investments would acquire a stake in one of the non-EU constellations being built, getting access to a share of the system capacity. The access to this capacity would be complemented by EU infrastructure (e.g. additional space capacity, EU-owned cybersecurity systems, quantum communication infrastructure)
Expected impacts
The project would increase the development of European technologies, including cybersecurity. It will notably serve the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure. In addition, the European Commission expects this initiative to contribute to the development of cloud, edge, high-performance computing, and Artificial Intelligence.
Ultimately, the initiative would strengthen the EU’s digital sovereignty.
Consultation of stakeholders
There is an ongoing study called “GOVSATCOM and EuroQCI: Building Blocks Towards a Secure Space Connectivity System”. The authors of the study have conducted over 60 interviews with critical end-user segments (e.g. aviation, maritime, automotive, telecommunication, road traffic management, energy, finance, data centres) to analyse their needs. This study is performed by leading industry players, including European satellite manufacturers, operators and service providers, telecommunication operators.
The European Commission will not organise a broad consultation but rather focuses on specific issues in expert forums. For instance, there is currently a closed stakeholder consultation for the security needs, taking place through several GOVSATCOM Expert workshops and through the ENTRUSTED study.
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