By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Eutelsat
Chief Executive Officer, Jean-François Fallacher has called for stronger
European unity across the space connectivity value chain, urging stakeholders
to rally behind the IRIS² programme to ensure Europe delivers its
next-generation satellite capabilities on time and at scale.
Speaking
at the European Space Conference, Fallacher said IRIS² arrives at a critical
moment for Europe, following years of preparation aimed at securing an
autonomous and resilient satellite system capable of delivering high-quality
services from 2029. He stressed that the 2029 timeline is non-negotiable,
warning that Europe must now translate ambition into operational reality by
building competitive infrastructure from the outset.
Fallacher
highlighted the growing importance of low Earth orbit capabilities, noting that
low latency, resilience and global coverage have become essential requirements
for both commercial and government users. He said the expansion of government
revenues linked to Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO constellation since 2021 demonstrates
the strategic value of operating LEO systems at scale, experience the company
is now applying to the development of IRIS².
He
cautioned against fragmentation within Europe’s space ecosystem, arguing that
the proliferation of separate constellation projects would weaken the continent
at a time when global competitors are accelerating. According to Fallacher,
limited spectrum availability and constrained funding mean Europe must
prioritise focus, consolidation and scale to remain competitive.
Describing
IRIS² as more than a space programme, Fallacher said it represents Europe’s
unity, credibility and ability to act decisively. He emphasised that timing
will be a key success factor and called for immediate action to keep the
programme on track.
Eutelsat,
alongside partners SES and Hispasat, is leading the SpaceRISE consortium and
has reaffirmed its commitment to working with the European Commission to
deliver the first IRIS² services in 2029, positioning the programme as a
cornerstone of Europe’s future space connectivity ambitions.
