The meeting, the announcement of the agreement and then the refusal. Within 24 hours the Starlink case became a national sensation and nothing really happened. Between those who fear their data and those who fear the already big and “natural” Strategic dependence on the USSingers of Assumption The Maloney-Musk deal They have certainly missed the crux of the issue.
At the heart of the debate was the news that Italy could buy Starlink services for a price. 1.5 billion euros To provide a secure connection for government and international operations. But does our country really need it? Is it just a satellite question? What does the EU say?
Does Italy really have no alternative to Starlink?
The so-called The new space economy It is the global market sector with the highest growth margin over the next decade. Denying that she had spoken directly with Elon Musk about the Starlink dossier, Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney ruled that Italy had no alternative to Starlink, but not from a technical point of view. . The trigger is not the lack of satellites or coverage, but the connection to the American camp, as we will explain better later.
Projects for a network of low-orbit satellites built in Italy are underway in our country, which have already been addressed.Italian Space Agency. The economic-legal aspect is also at an advanced stage, focusing on public-private partnerships. gave Space bill It was tabled in parliament in September, although it has yet to be debated. A project Achievable in medium to long termWhile growing international uncertainty requires us (at the inevitable American behest) to increasingly secure our civilian, intelligence and diplomatic connections. Actually, very short.
In this sense, after following the US order, Italy seems to have no alternative to Starlink. Musk’s satellite fleet has been proposed as the most complete and advanced, but it has no shortage of rivals in the West. from Blue original By Jeff Bezos (3 thousand satellites) in French One Web (600), to programs initiated by the European Union. Musk’s company currently boasts 2.6 million users. 6,700 satellites And has announced to increase to 42 thousand by 2030.
How many satellites do Italy and EU have?
Different political factions emphasize that focusing on Italian satellites could relaunch the entire economy of our country, starting with the technology industry in a historic moment in which keeping up with the rest of the world is crucial. Can be proven. For example, the Maloney government is in a hurry to rely on Starlink. A reliable backup is required. During cyber and natural emergencies. But the European space community has wondered why Rome doesn’t pay attention EU program called Iris². For secure communication based on the constellation of 290 satellites And already partially funded by our country. The first launch into orbit will take place in 2025, costing 10 billion euros. On paper, there is no comparison to Starlink’s material power.
But how many satellites does Italy have? According to data provided by experts at the Union of Concerned Scientists, they are approx. There are 5,500 active satellites in our country.And, although they are probably more numerous. Among them Only 15 can be called “Made in Italy”.i.e. belonging to the Ministry of Defense or the Italian Space Agency. Except for soldiers, it is not defined for security reasons. In 2023, the Ministry of Defense announced the launch of “our” constellation into low orbit. Eng-Leocontains the beauty of 19.708 thousand satellites. That’s about four times the orbital fleet of Starlink. However, there is only one project at the moment.
Why the Maloney government wants Starlink and why it doesn’t.
According to Article 25 of the Space Law recently introduced by the Executive, the Government has prioritized the creation of a Space Law. “National Transmission Capacity Reserve”a backup system based on satellite technology for strategic communications in emergency situations. The law specifies what such services can be. exclusively entrusted to European or NATO institutions. If this is indeed the logic behind the Italian interest in Starlink, as mentioned, the urgent need to create a reliable contingency plan in the event of natural disasters, to which Italy is particularly vulnerable, emerges. However, 1.5 billion euros for a temporary emergency solution appears to be an excessive commitment. More than the annual budget of the whole sector Italian astronaut.
Compared to the satellite constellation designed by Italian equipment and the European Iris² project, the Starlink solution however represents a much less expensive and pre-operational option. Additionally, the SpaceX company is about to launch its own. The latest generation “V3” satelliteswhich boasts never-before-seen: speed Downlink (Network or satellite-to-ground user link) 1 Tbps and its capacity Uplink (sending data to radio repeaters or network devices such as switches or routers) up to 160 Gbps. Translated into edible terms: a flow and exchange capability 24 times faster and more stable than any existing technology.
However, a comparison between Starlink and IRIS² This is not an operational question. Starlink is a large constellation built by A private American corporation serving civilian and military interests Americans, generating income. In other words: Starlink may be globally available, but it is by no means a neutral platform. The United States government itself is approaching SpaceX with caution, fueling fears of outsourcing to other countries. Management of critical infrastructure. But other principles come into play, including the United States directly.
Musk is not an inventor and does not steal our data: America’s long hand
One of the virtues of geopolitics is to cut through reality, highlighting what matters to countries and nations. That is why the words of leaders and politicians are left out. And the truth is, there is the Internet. A military invention developed by the Pentagon (like cellphones, after all), then leased to private companies for civilian purposes. The boom in social networks has forced US agencies to rewrite the rules. Economic interests of private companies can never be against national interest. Same as Mark Zuckerberg Sam Altmanstrong man of Facebook e Open AIThey learned this the hard way. Both ended up in hearings before the US Congress, which called for Russia and China to be held accountable for rumors about the alleged sale of user information and top secrets.
Elon Musk didn’t invent anything, so he’s the only one. Technology Manager Developed by the US federal government. The visionary tycoon’s trick was to align himself with Donald Trump’s paragon of success, hoping to ease frequent disputes with the Pentagon over payments and the use of satellite and Internet technology. Space is a strategic front. For the USA and the activities of a single entrepreneur cannot compromise their security. Especially given an acceleration of cConfrontation with China and Russia in Orbit. The excessive power of big businessmen like Elon Musk – who can “shut down” satellites even during war; As happened in Ukraine. – must be absolutely limited in the eyes of Washington, which diverts coverage and resources and guarantees investment to “loyal” countries like Italy.
Competition with China on technological and societal levels, as well as in space, centers on the issue of personal data for millions of people. As already highlighted. The case of TikTokWashington wants to prevent at all costs information about Possible weak points of the sulle Internal momentum and disruptions on the European front May end up in Beijing’s hands. The ban on Chinese social platforms in the US and the announcement that the EU may follow suit are just one chapter in the same book.
What happens to our data?
If we emerge from the fog of controversy for a moment, we can see how SpaceX has been involved in the Italian problems since at least June. The framework agreement signed with Telespazio – a company owned by Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%) – was aimed precisely at the marketing of Starlink services. Not to mention other American and Israeli groups active in our country. Whether we like it or not, if our data is on the Internet, it is. Available to those who manage the Internet.. And therefore of America, as we have explained. Who certainly do not use them to harm our daily lives but to analyze the internal conditions and movements and to predict and guide the future of the satellite countries.
When Elon Musk’s closest contact in Italy, Andrea Stroppa, says that with StarLink, “the data remains Under the complete control of Italian institutions“, that means our privacy isn’t threatened by rival empires like Russia and China. It’s a calculation to America’s strategic advantage, and ours, for that matter. Italy does not enjoy full strategic autonomy.. Musk’s propaganda and the U.S. come together as Stoppa announced that, by terminating the deal with Starlink, the Italian government would be able to use U.S. technology “but at the same time in the national interest.” will also protect”. An interest that must always account for the interests of the United States.
