A network node through which satellite-based communications services for security-critical applications in the EU will be provided and controlled will be located in Cologne. The EU Commission has taken this decision. This is the so-called GovSatcom Hub for the planned “infrastructure for resilience, interconnectivity and security through satellites” (IRIS2). The group is based on the EU’s older GovSatcom program to connect and share satellite services between member states for highly available broadband Internet.
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As a central ground infrastructure, the GovSatcom Hub aims to enable authorities, disaster control and other public institutions to communicate flexibly and hassle-free – especially in crisis situations. It is a data hub for the long-term operations phase of IRIS2. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and several international partners such as branches of the European Space Agency (ESA) are already located at the Cologne site. According to the government of North Rhine-Westphalia, “with its unique infrastructure it offers ideal conditions for the integration of the hub”.
According to the key Federal Economics Ministry, the federal government, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and DLR worked together to bring the ground station to Germany. The government of North Rhine-Westphalia agreed to cover up to 50 million euros of the cost of constructing a building on the site. About Hub for Govsatcom In future, the supply and demand of all central services of the new EU satellite system will be controlled and coordinated. According to the plan, it serves as a headquarters for the allocation and interconnection of all communication routes available through the included artificial Earth satellites.
Encrypted quantum communication via Govsatcom
In the medium to long term, the Hub will also plan and control new quantum communications services via satellites as part of an initiative. European Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI) Capture. Among other things, the EU is promoting innovative processes for quantum cryptography. The EuroQCI ground segment will be based on fiber optic networks connecting strategic locations in EU countries at national and cross-border level. The associated space segment is intended to be an integral part of IRIS2. Designed to protect Europe’s government institutions, their data centres, hospitals, energy networks and other critical infrastructure, EuroQCI is one of the key pillars of the EU’s cybersecurity strategy for the coming decades.
The IRIS2 program itself is currently one of the EU’s most important space projects. The Starlink option aims to meet European state needs in the sense of desired digital sovereignty as well as being commercially viable, for example by closing the gap in broadband communications.
Significant contribution to technological sovereignty
The Commission awarded the contract for the construction, deployment and operation of IRIS2 to the SpaceRise Consortium in late October. It mainly consists of three European satellite network operators SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, which are truly competitive. The alliance will rely on a core team of European subcontractors from all sectors of the satellite and communications ecosystem. These include, above all, Thales Alenia Space, Bremen Space Group OHB, Airbus, Telespazio, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Hisdesat and Thales Six. The Commission signed an initial 10.6 billion euro contract with SpaceRise in mid-December, giving the official starting signal for the programme, which is expected to include a network of 290 satellites for broadband coverage in medium and low orbits by 2030.
NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) welcomed the decisionThis “underlines once again the outstanding importance of North Rhine-Westphalia as a central location for aerospace in Europe”. The Luna Training and Technology Center in Cologne was opened for astronauts in 2024. Now comes participation in IRIS2. Both showed: “The road to space goes through North Rhine-Westphalia.” The federal government’s space coordinator, Anna Christmann (Greens), said: By operating the hub, Germany will “make a decisive contribution to Europe’s technological and security sovereignty.”
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