The European Commission-funded SIGMA project has successfully completed its first test in Luxembourg, demonstrating the use of secure satellite communications via GovSat-1 during major natural disasters.
The press release highlighted that in a simulated flooding scenario in northern Luxembourg, where terrestrial networks were down, a secure satellite link was established through GovSat-1, enabling uninterrupted communication between the Luxembourg Army command in Diekirch and units deployed in the field. Once conditions stabilised, the connection was automatically switched back to terrestrial networks without interruption.
The integrated SIGMA system, coordinated by Engineering and Innovation in Defense and Telecommunications Solutions (INSTER) in Spain and supported by GovSat and the Luxembourg Armed Forces, showcased several key features: seamless handover between 5G and satellite networks, end-to-end encrypted data, and full European interoperability and sovereignty.
According to the press release, the test highlights how European satellite infrastructure can maintain reliable, secure, and sovereign communications when conventional networks fail. GovSat CEO Patrick Biewer emphasised in the press release that the demonstration proves the value of pooling civilian and military satellite capacities for stronger EU-wide crisis coordination.
Funded under the Horizon Europe programme, the SIGMA project aims to reinforce GOVSATCOM services for EU and national public authorities, integrating multi-band SatCom, advanced encryption, and 5G compatibility. Further trials are planned in France and Germany, covering flood response, public event security, and mountain rescue operations.
