Press release —
Eutelsat and Poland sign strategic Memorandum of Understanding supporting Poland's participation in IRIS²
- Strengthening cooperation with the Polish space ecosystem to support Europe's future secure satellite communications infrastructure
- Polish companies to access Eutelsat facilities to develop and test future IRIS² user terminals
- Discussions launched on reserved OneWeb LEO capacity to support Poland ahead of IRIS² deployment
Paris, 28 July 2026 – Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Poland to deepen cooperation in support of Europe's future secure satellite communications infrastructure under the IRIS² programme.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Warsaw by Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, and Tomasz Szymański, Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland, during a ceremony attended by Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space and Marcin Kierwiński, Minister of the Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland. The signing marks another important milestone in the implementation of IRIS² and reflects the shared commitment of Poland, Eutelsat and the European Union to strengthening Europe's secure, resilient and sovereign satellite connectivity capabilities.
The Memorandum of Understanding complements the agreement signed on the same occasion between the European Commission and the Republic of Poland on Poland's additional investment in the IRIS² programme. Together, these agreements reinforce Poland's contribution to Europe's flagship secure connectivity programme, combining increased financial investment with concrete industrial and operational cooperation.
The MoU reflects the shared ambition of Eutelsat and Poland to strengthen Europe's secure and sovereign connectivity capabilities, contribute to Europe’s technological leadership and strategic autonomy, and support the continued development of the Polish space ecosystem.
Under the agreement, Eutelsat and Polish institutions will collaborate on the development of secure satellite communications in Europe, with a particular focus on the deployment and future evolution of the low Earth Orbit (LEO) part of the IRIS² constellation.
As part of this cooperation, Eutelsat will provide Polish space companies with access to its facilities to test and validate IRIS² user terminals, helping accelerate innovation and supporting the integration of Polish industry into the European secure connectivity ecosystem.
The parties also intend to explore the provision of up to 2 Gbps of reserved and prioritised OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) capacity over Poland ahead of the entry into service of IRIS², with the objective of concluding a commercial agreement by June 2027. By leveraging OneWeb’s operational low Earth orbit (LEO) network, Poland would benefit from resilient, low-latency satellite connectivity ahead of IRIS² becoming operational, providing an effective bridge to Europe’s future sovereign secure connectivity system.
Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, said: "Secure low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity has become a strategic capability for Europe. We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Poland through this Memorandum of Understanding, reflecting our shared commitment to Europe's next generation of secure satellite communications. By combining OneWeb's operational capabilities today with the future potential of IRIS², we are creating tangible benefits for Poland while helping build Europe’s secure connectivity and architecture."
The MoU forms part of the implementation of Poland's participation in the European Union Secure Connectivity Programme and further reinforces Eutelsat's role within the SpaceRISE consortium, where it is leading the deployment and operation of the low Earth orbit (LEO) component of the IRIS² constellation.
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About Eutelsat
Eutelsat is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. Eutelsat was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 31 Geostationary (GEO) satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites. Eutelsat addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes around 6,300 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services. Eutelsat's unique suite of in-orbit assets and ground infrastructure enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers. The Company is headquartered in Paris and Eutelsat employs more than 1,600 people across more than 75 countries. Eutelsat is committed to delivering safe, resilient, and environmentally sustainable connectivity to help bridge the digital divide. The Company is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL) and the London Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL).
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DISCLAIMER
The forward-looking statements included herein are for illustrative purposes only and are based on management’s views and assumptions as of the date of this document. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks. For illustrative purposes only, such risks include but are not limited to: risks related to the health crisis; operational risks related to satellite failures or impaired satellite performance, or failure to roll out the deployment plan as planned and within the expected timeframe; risks related to the trend in the satellite telecommunications market resulting from increased competition or technological changes affecting the market; risks related to the international dimension of the Group's customers and activities; risks related to the adoption of international rules on frequency coordination and financial risks related, inter alia, to the financial guarantee granted to the Intergovernmental Organization's closed pension fund, and foreign exchange risk. Eutelsat Communications expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any projections, forecasts or estimates contained in this document to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The information contained in this document is not based on historical fact and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts or data mentioned will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group considers as reasonable.
