Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 19, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
Italy plans to create its own satellite system as an alternative to Starlink, aiming to secure government communications independently.
By Angelo Amante
ROME (Reuters) - Italy is aiming to develop its own low-orbit satellites for government communications, its industry minister said on Wednesday, presenting it as an alternative to systems provided by U.S. billionaire Elon Musk.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government had previously said it was considering the use of Musk's Starlink satellites to provide encrypted communications between officials operating in risky areas.
The suggestion was sharply criticised by opposition politicians, who questioned the wisdom of handing a national security contract to a foreign entrepreneur who is also part of the U.S. government under President Donald Trump.
"We are in fact working on the creation of a national low-orbit satellite system developed independently, with the involvement of the main national players," Minister Adolfo Urso said in the lower house of parliament.
Urso, a member of Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy party, said that would offer a competitive alternative to infrastructure provided by other global operators, including Musk.
Urso did not give a timing for the development of the project and did not specify which companies the government had called in, but said the national space agency would carry out a feasibility study.
Musk has a warm relationship with Meloni and said last month he would be ready to offer his services to Italy. However, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto denied an agreement had been sealed.
Starlink, part of Musk's SpaceX aerospace business, has 6,700 active satellites in low earth orbit. A source told Reuters that Italy was considering a five-year deal with the company worth 1.5 billion euros ($1.57 billion).
($1 = 0.9584 euros)
(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Alvise Armellini and Richard Chang)
Italy aims to develop its own low-orbit satellites for government communications as an alternative to Musk's Starlink.
Opposition politicians criticized the idea of using Starlink, questioning the wisdom of giving a national security contract to a foreign entrepreneur.
Minister Adolfo Urso is leading the initiative, stating that the project will involve major national players and a feasibility study by the national space agency.
Despite Musk's willingness to offer services to Italy, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto denied that any agreement had been finalized.
Starlink, part of Musk's SpaceX, has 6,700 active satellites in low earth orbit.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
