EU wants to build its own Starlink

[Hanno Labuschagne]

EU wants to build its own Starlink

The European Union is committing to build a €10.6 billion (R199.23-billion) constellation of satellites that will provide the bloc with encrypted global internet connectivity in a bid to provide a homegrown alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The EU on Monday signed contracts to begin work on IRIS2, a 290-satellite multi-orbital network slated to be fully operational by 2030 that can serve European governments and militaries, as well as private customers.

[Bloomberg]

 

[HAL 9000]

"OH NO YOU DON'T!"

 

[Enzo Matrix]

Kessler syndrome acceleration loading

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

The EU is far too incompetent for that. You really think an organisation staffed by a bunch of pencil-pushing bureaucrats has any imagination at all?

 

[neoprema]

Europe needs to focus on not becoming an Islamic State by 2026. Then they can focus on building a Starlink replacement.

 

[longboy]

Europe needs to focus on not becoming an Islamic State by 2026. Then they can focus on building a Starlink replacement.

I don't think Hassan and Ahmed can design satellite rockets well. This will never take off... literally!

Their liberal immigration and forced failed integration of immigrants are a laughing stock around the world...it's like the EU are suffering from some sort of guilt syndrome from their past Colonial activities.

 

[tetrasect]

We don't need more fking space junk flying around. Nobody needs that shtty internet. Everyone has fiber.

 

[longboy]

We don't need more fking space junk flying around. Nobody needs that shtty internet. Everyone has fiber.

Oom Paul in the middle of the Karoo and such need it sadly.

 

[Genisys]

We don't need more fking space junk flying around. Nobody needs that shtty internet. Everyone has fiber.

Everyone you say hey? Lets go ask the people that stay in rural towns and on farms how they are enjoying their fibre

 

[saor]

We don't need more fking space junk flying around. Nobody needs that shtty internet. Everyone has fiber.

Easy to say once your needs are met with GPS and whatever else. But ja - I wonder where we draw the line with how many companies can start filling the skies with their own satellite swarms.

 

[longboy]

Everyone you say hey? Lets go ask the people that stay in rural towns and on farms how they are enjoying their fibre

Even in semi-rural areas and some Estates there is no fiber. A Starlink kit is dead useful as a backup even if you have fiber imo. I got myself one of them a long time back but it stopped working a week ago due to roaming bs...fkn ANC/DA/GNU

 

[neoprema]

I don't think Hassan and Ahmed can design satellite rockets well. This will never take off... literally!

Their liberal immigration and forced failed integration of immigrants are a laughing stock around the world...it's like the EU are suffering from some sort of guilt syndrome from their past Colonial activities.

One would think right?

I mean did they not see this coming? I blame Merkel.

 

[longboy]

One would think right?

I mean did they not see this coming? I blame Merkel.

This. 100%.

 

[tetrasect]

Oom Paul in the middle of the Karoo and such need it sadly.

Everyone you say hey? Lets go ask the people that stay in rural towns and on farms how they are enjoying their fibre

Even in semi-rural areas and some Estates there is no fiber. A Starlink kit is dead useful as a backup even if you have fiber imo. I got myself one of them a long time back but it stopped working a week ago due to roaming bs...fkn ANC/DA/GNU

EU is not in SA.

 

[tetrasect]

Easy to say once your needs are met with GPS and whatever else. But ja - I wonder where we draw the line with how many companies can start filling the skies with their own satellite swarms.

Difference is these things screw up our scientific endeavors.

Radio pollution from SpaceX's new Starlink satellites poses threat to astronomy, scientists say

Radio pollution from Starlink satellites could mar the hunt for mysterious signals from the early universe.

www.space.com

 

[Genisys]

EU is not in SA.

And why would EU be any different to South Africa? You will still have the same layout. Large amounts of people staying and and around major cities, and then a few large towns with people living around them as well. Doubt it makes financial sense to run fibre to every farm in EU.

 

[Enzo Matrix]

SpaceX’s Starlink constellation performed nearly 50,000 collision avoidance maneuvers in just the first half of 2024. That amounted to 275 maneuvers per day.

Growing risks in low Earth orbit demand more responsible space behavior

At this very moment, there are over 10,000 operational satellites in low Earth orbit, along with 3,500 decommissioned (or defunct) satellites, tens of thousands of pieces of debris 10 centimeters o…

spacenews.com

 

[tetrasect]

And why would EU be any different to South Africa? You will still have the same layout. Large amounts of people staying and and around major cities, and then a few large towns with people living around them as well. Doubt it makes financial sense to run fibre to every farm in EU.

Fiber coverage in the 27 EU states + United Kingdom, 4 CIS countries, Iceland, Israel, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey was over 70% in September 2023.

EU39 reaches 70% FTTH/B coverage according to the FTTH Council Europe

According to the Fibre to the Home/Building (FTTH/B) Market Panorama, the EU39 (27 EU Member States, United Kingdom, 4 CIS countries, Iceland, Israel, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey) reached 70% FTTH/B coverage rate, 244 million homes passed and 121 million FTTH/B...

digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu

And then there's 5G and even 4G which is still faster than starlink.

After that there's cable and DSL which is about the same speed as starlink (not the pathetic 4mbps that we get from Telkom).

The only reason they are doing this is because they are scared that Russia and China are gonna attack the undersea cables.
As a service to provide internet for consumers, it's total crap.

 

[The Trutherizer]

They are not the first. It's all to prevent a starlink monopoly. Which makes perfect sense. Already Musk exercised geopolitical power during the Ukraine war, regarding starlink connectivity around Crimea. It's no wonder that the EU, and others, have prioritized putting alternatives in place.

Sad that the visible skies are getting polluted. And sad that it might even one day stand in the way of space exploration. But, that's the way the cookie crumbles. A good idea from one angle can be a terrible idea from another.

 

[Dylan_G]

Europe needs to focus on not becoming an Islamic State by 2026. Then they can focus on building a Starlink replacement.

But then where will they get all the "engineers" from?