Unlocking the future with secure SATCOM
The EU needs autonomous, secure, resilient and high-speed, space-based connectivity to satisfy the requirements of its institutions, bodies, agencies and Member States.
Answering that need is secure SATCOM.
That was one of the key takeaways from a recent EUSPA webinar on secure SATCOM in the Union. Entitled ‘Secure SATCOM in the EU – A Comprehensive Overview’ and with a focus on market opportunities and technological trends, the 12 December webinar was geared towards those small businesses and enterprises looking to leverage this strategic and fast-growing sector.
Market opportunities and technological trends
Citing its recently published Secure SATCOM Market and User Technology Report, which has already recorded over 6,000 downloads, EUSPA noted that user demand for fixed satellite services (FSS) in the EU will increase by a factor of 14 between 2025 and 2040, reaching around 186 Gbps by 2040.
Presenters also highlighted how the Key Infrastructure category is set to generate the highest level of demand, representing around 50% of total capacity demand by 2040. The two largest use cases within this segment are Institutional Communications and Other Critical Infrastructures.
User demand for secure SATCOM from mobile satellite services (MSS), on the other hand, is expected to increase from around 1.2 Gbps (2025) to 3.9 Gbps (2040), with the majority coming from the maritime surveillance use case.
Looking ahead, EUSPA noted that new digital technologies, along with new market players, will impact both the demand for and use of secure SATCOM services. The Agency also presented examples of how such dynamics could impact the way these services are utilised within various use cases.
Secure SATCOM within the EU Space Programme
The webinar included an in-depth overview of the secure SATCOM components of the EU Space Programme. These include GOVSATCOM, which aims to provide secure and cost-efficient communications capabilities to security and safety-critical missions and operations, along with the recently launched IRIS² initiative. That programme will offer secure, reliable and cost-effective satellite communication services for authorised government users and facilitate commercial services.
Be part of our emerging end-user network focusing on secure satellite communications!
As to GOVSATCOM, EUSPA has been entrusted with several preparatory activities, including the establishment, growth, coordination and management of the network of future EU secure Satellite Communication users. The network, coordinated by EUSPA and managed by the EUSPA-led ENTRUSTED project, aims to compile and understand user needs and define a detailed roadmap for developing innovative user technology. It is the continuation of the previously established network of users in the ENTRUSTED project.
According to the EUSPA Market Downstream and Innovation representative, this new network of users will have access to a wide range of opportunities, from sharing experiences to discussing and assessing innovative use cases and requirements and identifying challenges and opportunities for the use of secure SATCOM. The network also plans to launch pilot activities and hold workshops and training opportunities.
If you're interested, send an email to join the new network at ENTRUSTED@euspa.europa.eu. It is open for all end-users.
Synergies and funding opportunities
The webinar closed with a brief overview of the synergies that exist across the EU Space Programme which, in addition to SATCOM (GOVSATCOM and in the future IRIS2), includes GNSS (Galileo, EGNOS) and Earth Observation (Copernicus).
EUSPA also announced several funding opportunities, including GOVSATCOM specific HORIZON Europe calls.
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