The European Union is reportedly considering Canada as a potential partner in its IRIS² satellite network, as Ottawa works to reduce its reliance on SpaceX and Starlink.
The report comes just days before Prime Minister Mark Carney hosts European leaders in Montreal for the Canada-European Union Summit on Thursday and Friday.
According to a report published Monday, the EU is eyeing Canada as a possible participant in its secure satellite communications programme (via Rapporteur).
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney will meet with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen cooperation between Canada and Europe.
However, neither the Canadian government nor the EU has publicly confirmed discussions about Canadian participation in IRIS², and the satellite programme is not specifically mentioned in the summit agenda.
IRIS², short for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, is Europe’s planned alternative to satellite networks operated by foreign companies, including SpaceX’s Starlink.
According to the European Commission, the constellation will consist of 348 satellites, made up of 330 in low Earth orbit and another 18 in medium Earth orbit.
The network is being developed to provide secure connectivity for governments, emergency services, businesses and citizens, with initial launches planned for 2029 and services starting from 2030.
Canada would not be the first country outside the EU to participate. Norway and Iceland signed agreements to join IRIS² and GOVSATCOM on March 26, 2026.
The potential partnership also follows comments from Carney in September that Canada is working to reduce its dependence on Starlink, although he acknowledged competing networks have yet to match its capabilities.
Ottawa has already committed a $2.14-billion loan to support Telesat’s Lightspeed satellite constellation, although the Canadian company still depends on SpaceX rockets to launch its satellites.
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