About our programmes
ARTES 4.0
Our Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme turns ideas into fully-fledged products, systems and services. The programme provides European and Canadian industry with the capacity to respond rapidly to global market and security challenges.
ARTES has enabled technologies to develop and companies to mitigate the inherent risk of innovation before entering the satellite communications market. From optical and quantum communications to space-based 5G connectivity, ESA has supported ground-breaking technology and talent.
With the current subscription for ARTES, we will continue to support European leadership in the GEO market through the HummingSat and Novacom projects. We will be able to deliver on optical and quantum communications, key technologies to further our autonomy and resilience. Our project HydRON will establish a true “internet of space” and further expand our network of optical ground stations. We will also advance secure communications through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with our projects SAGA (supporting the European Union’s EuroQCI initiative), Eagle-1 and its follow-on Eagle neXt, and QKDSat.
In addition, we will continue developing 5G connectivity, investing in solutions that provide seamless connectivity by integrating ground and satellite networks. This will reinforce Europe’s position and offer an opportunity to step up our involvement in the direct-to-device revolution.
Our work on secure connectivity will extend to the fields of aviation, maritime operations, and cybersecurity. Significantly improving European air traffic management through Iris Global will deliver greener, safer, and more efficient air traffic management. Additionally, we will implement space capabilities to safeguard the radio-frequency spectrum from harmful interference.
ESA programme related to EU Secure Connectivity - IRIS2
Among uncertainties and global challenges, faster and more reliable connectivity is becoming imperative. The European Union’s third flagship space programme, IRIS2, aims to strengthen Europe’s essential communications services. It will also support a wide range of essential services, from government-authorised secure connectivity to commercial solutions. ESA will qualify and validate the development of this new multi-orbital satellite constellation, led by the SpaceRISE industrial consortium.
The evolution of IRIS2 will become the communication backbone for ESA’s European Resilience from Space initiative, a component of a multi-domain system of systems bringing together Earth Observation and Navigation. This will improve our ability to mitigate and manage emergencies and use the most advanced space assets for near real-time critical operations to better serve the needs of European citizens and governments.