The European Union has committed $6.2 billion to the project, which will involve 290 satellites across different orbits. Private satellite companies in Europe will pick up the rest of the tab.

The EU's flagship satellite constellation project officially took off Monday, as the bloc signed a concession contract with a European consortium to develop a secure space-based communication system.

The European Union has signed a $11B deal to build a sovereign satellite constellation to rival Elon Musk's Starlink.

The European Commission has signed a private deal to develop a multi-orbital satellite internet network which would seek to rival Starlink.

After Galileo and Copernicus, Iris2 is the third EU flagship satellite program designed to address long-term challenges

The European Commission on Monday awarded contracts to push forward delayed plans for a 10.6 billion euro ($11.13 billion) secure European satellite constellation in response to Elon Musk's Starlink and other fast-growing internet networks.

The European Space Agency will build its own secure satellite network, IRIS2, to provide commercial satellite internet and security.

The European Union is committing to build a €10.6 billion ($11.13 billion) constellation of satellites that will provide the bloc with encrypted global internet connectivity in a bid to provide a homegrown alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The European Union (EU) is planning to develop an approximately $11.13 billion network of satellites aimed at competing with Elon