| 1 April 2026
IRIS² Info Days
IRIS² Low LEO Info Days Background:
The SpaceRISE consortium, consisting of Eutelsat, Hispasat and SES, signed the Concession Contract Agreement with the European Commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) on 12 December 2024, to design, deliver, and operate the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) over a 12-year period.
The IRIS² Satellite Constellation is the European Union’s third flagship, addressing long-term challenges of EU’s sovereignty, security, safety and resilience by offering enhanced connectivity services to governmental users. In the context of current geopolitical challenges, IRIS² marks the beginning of an autonomous, sovereign, multi-layer, and multi-mission European constellation highlighting the strategic role of the European space value chain.
The IRIS2 system will include a low orbital layer (Low LEO) of the constellation, in addition to the LEO-H and MEO layers, designed to operate below 750 km altitude. It will embark innovative missions, focused on communications, interconnected with the rest of the constellation, which will contribute to boosting the ecosystem of European start-ups and SMEs. With a strong emphasis on innovation, the initiative supports the enabling of novel use cases and advanced fabrication methods that will shape the next generation of secure satellite communications. By driving industrial growth and technological excellence, Low LEO plays a key role in enhancing European sovereignty and positioning Europe as a global leader in space-based connectivity solutions, while accelerating industrialization.
Closely aligned with the European Commission priorities and conceived as a complementary procurement mechanism, the IRIS² Low LEO Pre-Operational and De-Risk Activities components, as part of the Element 3 of the ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, aim at establishing a structured pathway for the maturation and de-risking of complementary governmental services and associated system concepts up to pre-operational, prior to their integration into the EU IRIS² operational system.
About the IRIS² Low LEO Info Day events:
To ensure broad participation and accessibility across the European space ecosystem, Info Days will be organized in different countries throughout Europe.
These events are designed to give all stakeholders—from established industry players to emerging innovators—the opportunity to engage directly with the IRIS² Low LEO initiative, gain insights into upcoming opportunities, and contribute to shaping the future of European satellite communications.
Detailed agenda is coming soon.
Location, date and practicalities:
The first Info Day will take place in Madrid, Spain on April 16th 2026.
The second Info Day will take place in Rome, Italy on 21st April 2026.
The third Info Day will take place in Paris, France on 23rd April 2026.
The fourth and last Info Day will take place in Warsaw, Poland on 28th April 2028.
SpaceRISE encourages on-site participation to foster direct collaboration with consortium members and strengthen synergies among all stakeholders
To support the efficiency of exchanges on each of the days, each company may register a maximum of two participants per Info Day. On-site participation will be possible until maximum capacity is reached, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Useful links about IRIS²:
· The European Commission announcement on the IRIS² contract is available here
· Read the ESA announcement on the IRIS² contract
· The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity
For any questions or further information, please contact us at iris2lowleoprocurement@hispasat.com.