Iceland and Norway have joined IRIS2, the EU’s space-based secure communications initiative, which seeks to offer an alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink. Norway and Iceland both signed a participation agreement in Brussels with EU Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius. Norway and Iceland are expected to contribute about €40 million and €3 million respectively into IRIS2 for 2026–2027, with future amounts to be negotiated after the finalisation of the EU’s 2028–2034 budget. Covering connectivity dead zones in Europe and Africa The IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) constellation will use a variety of Low Earth (LEO), Geostationary (GEO), and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites to bolster communication services for European citizens, private industry and govermental authorities, in competition with American companies such as Starlink that dominate the market. The network will utilise over 250 satellites and revitalise connectivity dead zones across both Europe and Africa, via North-South orbits. As well as boosting services for the public, IRIS2 will strengthen satellite communications in Europe across a variety of metrics: For governments, the improved communications will …