Europe’s satellite sovereignty push faces funding test as EU space budget cycle ends

National telecoms authorities, EU policymakers, and satellite company Sateliot gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss the future of Europe's satellite communications on Tuesday. The seven-year EU space budget, which funds projects like Galileo and Copernicus, is set to end in 2027, raising concerns about how the bloc will secure funding for its satellite infrastructure.

Sateliot, a Barcelona-based company, specializes in using satellites as mobile phone masts, connecting IoT devices in remote areas. The EU's €14.8 billion space program for 2021-2027 is set to expire alongside the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). For the period 2028-2034, the European Commission plans to fund space initiatives through a new European Competitiveness Fund, allocating €131 billion for defence and space sectors.

EU leaders are expected to discuss the next budget during a meeting on Thursday and Friday. The Commission's defence industry and space department is currently managing three contracts related to the IRIS² secure satellite constellation, space surveillance, and the analysis of the space economy.

Spectrum, or radio frequencies, is a major point of contention. The EU proposed a single EU-wide licence for mobile satellite services in the 2 GHz band in May. This license would reserve part of the band for European operators and secure a system linked to IRIS².

EU Parliament Vice-President Javier López emphasized the importance of European control over satellite networks and data, stating that a Europe with its own network and data can act independently and make its own decisions. The CEO of Sateliot, Jaume Sanpera, agreed, stating that Europe must build and support European champions in the space sector. Sateliot has already been selected by ESA to contribute to IRIS²'s Low-LEO layer, a testing ground for new government services in low Earth orbit.