LuxConnect site in Bettembourg to host new EU satellite control centre

On Tuesday, 18 December, the Luxembourg government approved a draft bill to host a control centre for the future IRIS² constellation (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite) as part of the European satellite programme. The facilities will be located at the LuxConnect site in Bettembourg, with additional antennas to be installed on a yet-to-be-determined 2-hectare plot. Luxembourg will serve as one of three strategic centres, alongside Fucino in Italy and Toulouse in France.

IRIS² is a major European Union initiative to establish a secure satellite communications system, ensuring digital sovereignty, critical infrastructure resilience, and global connectivity for institutional, governmental, and commercial needs. Luxembourg's advanced space ecosystem and strategic contributions position it as a key partner in this project. Satellite operator SES, based in Luxembourg, will play a central role in the programme's design and operation, contributing to the EU's aim of providing fast and secure communication through the €10 billion network.

The LuxConnect site will host the main functions of the control centre, while the state-owned company will manage infrastructure hosting and maintenance. The IRIS² system will meet the growing demand for high-speed and low-latency connectivity across diverse sectors, including European institutions, the armed forces, commercial entities, and individual users. The programme will also incorporate quantum communication elements under the EuroQCI initiative.

Prime Minister Luc Frieden emphasised the significance of the IRIS² project, stating: "With IRIS², Europe is taking another major step forward in its strategic ambitions with this new sovereign satellite constellation. This is a vital project, and I am delighted that Luxembourg's support is contributing to these European ambitions."