ROME, Feb 19 (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)
The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) has invested €34.5 million in Italy’s leading high-speed railway operator, Italo – Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori S.p.A. (Italo) by entering into agreement with the Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), affiliated with US-based BlackRock.
A man jumped onto the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Friday and knocked down candelabra worth thousands of dollars.
A containment wall collapsed in central Genoa early Tuesday morning, damaging several vehicles but causing no injuries. Emergency services, including firefighters and drones, are on-site to assess the situation.
A Cyprus-flagged cargo ship crashed into a pier in Marina di Massa, causing a partial collapse, the Italian Coast Guard reported on Wednesday.
Italy resumes migrant transfers to Albania despite legal challenges, with 49 migrants en route as Rome's controversial policy faces EU court review in the coming weeks.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
USAID has long promoted itself as a supporter of press freedom, but reports suggest its media funding may have influenced domestic narratives in Europe and post-Soviet states. With the Trump administration freezing its grants, the agency’s role in shaping global information is under scrutiny.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
Moscow, February 20, 2025 – Russia is intensifying its push to join the global artificial intelligence race, aiming to harness AI for both civilian and military applications and to bolster its economy despite ongoing sanctions and stiff competition from the United States and China.
China is set to leverage artificial intelligence in its ambitious mission to explore the outer reaches of the solar system, aiming to enhance spacecraft autonomy and improve data processing for deep space exploration.
China has launched PUMCH-GENESIS, an AI model designed to speed up and improve the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. Developed with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it helps detect conditions, recommend specialists, and manage appointments.
Polish startup Clone Robotics has unveiled Protoclone, the world’s first anatomically accurate humanoid robot, featuring artificial muscles, bones, and joints that enable lifelike movements.
Google on Wednesday rolled out an update for iOS that lets users search what’s on their screen with a simple gesture. The new feature, available in both the Google Chrome and Google Search apps, is similar to Android’s built-in “Circle to Search” function.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment