IRIS² - the European Commission awards the concession contract to SpaceRISE consortium

Following the completion of the evaluation of the optimised best-and-final offer (OBAFO) received on 3 September, the Commission awarded today to the SpaceRISE consortium the concession contract to develop, deploy and operate the Union’s secure connectivity satellite system: IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). The procurement is now entering its final phase towards the signature of the concession agreement scheduled by December 2024, upon which the legal and financial commitment from both parties will be taken.

The SpaceRISE consortium is composed of three European satellite network operators: SES SA, Eutelsat SA, and Hispasat S.A. The consortium relies on a Core Team of European subcontractors from all segments of the satcom ecosystem for the delivery of the scope of the concession contract: Thales Alenia Space, OHB, Airbus Defence and Space, Telespazio, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Hisdesat and Thales SIX.

SpaceRISE offer includes appropriate mechanism to ensure competitive subcontracting in the selection of its Supply Chain, in particular for SMEs, and stimulate innovation by promoting new entrants’ participation.

The 12-year concession contract consists in a public-private partnership to acquire a system composed of over 290 satellites on various orbits and the associated ground segment to provide governmental services by 2030 while enabling commercial services.

The concession contract will be funded by public (European Union and ESA) and private investments (the SpaceRISE consortium). Regarding the European Union’s contribution, as the duration of the concession contract spans across multiple financial perspectives, the European Commission will first proceed with a budgetary commitment for the current multiannual financial framework. Additional amounts may be awarded after 31 December 2027, subject inter alia to the adoption of a successor programme by the European Parliament and Council, and the availability of the corresponding appropriations.