In the backdrop of an escalating space race the European Union (EU) has tabled two initiatives: the first being a proposal for a regulation on space-based secure connectivity and the other being a joint communication on an EU approach on Space Traffic Management (STM).
The past few years have seen a large increase in satellite launches, particularly by China, while also being witness to military expansion in space by both China and Russia. Increased deployment of satellites by private players have also populated Earth’s orbits, predominantly the region known as Low Earth Orbit (LEO). While the EU has been welcoming of increased participation in space by private entities, the resulting space debris has been a matter of concern to it.
Amid the announcement of the two initiatives, Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market was quoted saying, “Space plays a growing role in our daily lives, our economic growth, our security, and our geopolitical weight. Our new connectivity infrastructure will deliver high-speed internet access, serve as a back-up to our current internet infrastructure, increase our resilience and cyber security, and provide connectivity to the whole of Europe and Africa. It will be a truly pan-European project allowing our many start-ups and Europe as a whole to be at the forefront of technological innovation.”
Strategic value of space-based secure connectivity
Recognizing the need of space-based secure connectivity as a strategic interest, the EU has laid out the program that it plans to launch next year. The chief aims of the system are to ensure the long-term availability of worldwide uninterrupted access to secure and cost-effective satellite communication services and to allow for the provision of commercial services by the private sector that can enable access to advanced, reliable, and fast connections to citizens and businesses across Europe.
In order to fulfill these objectives, EU has laid out €6 billion ($6.8 billion) that are expected to come from the EU budget, member states, European Space Agency’s (ESA) contributions, besides private sector investments.
While the European space ecosystem has been playing catch-up with that of the U.S., the continent has been a conducive place for space partnerships of late. This initiative in particular is expected to boost the competitiveness of the EU space ecosystem, as the development of a new infrastructure is foreseen to provide a Gross Value Added (GVA) of €17-24 billion ($19.3-27.3 billion).
Space Traffic Management
Since the recent decades have seen increased proliferation in the number of satellites in orbit due to various factors (new development in launchers, small satellites, etc.), space sustainability has become the watchword of the 2020s. There is an urgent need to safeguard that space remains a safe, secure, and sustainable environment.
In order to develop concrete initiatives, including operations and legislation, the joint communication establishes an EU approach on STM. The four components that the approach seeks to focus on are:
- Assessing the STM civilian and military requirements and impacts for the EU;
- Strengthening its technological capability to identify and track spacecraft and space debris;
- Setting out the appropriate normative and legislative framework; and
- Establishing international partnerships on STM and engaging at a multilateral level.
Takeaways
The announcements augur well for the competitiveness of the European space ecosystem. Beside the direct economic benefits that were mentioned, further positive spillover effects are expected through downstream sectors that will make use of the innovative connectivity services. The technological advantages, reliability, and operational performance of such satellite communication will also benefit citizens and everyday users through high-speed internet connectivity. Moreover, latest quantum communication technologies are already being eyed for secure encryption.
STM has always been a priority public policy issue and the EU’s call to safeguard its interests immediately, collectively, and at a multilateral level are a window to increasing space collaboration between all government and private space agencies that we are likely to see in the future.
