EU discusses Ukraine’s access to GovSatCom satellite platform

The European Commission is discussing Ukraine’s full participation in the GovSatCom satellite communications platform, spokesman Thomas Regnier said at a Brussels briefing on October 14.

GovSatCom pools existing satellite capacity from EU member states and has operated since January 2026. Regnier said those resources could support basic connectivity, while commercial providers could potentially meet military requirements.

Commercial capacity could be added in early 2027 as a bridge to the full operation of IRIS². Regnier said that constellation, comprising more than 300 satellites, would be fully operational by 2029.

Journalists asked about reported restrictions affecting the American Starlink and Starshield systems. Regnier and Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho declined to compare their capabilities directly with European options. Neither announced that the European services would provide a fully equivalent replacement.

Pinho said the Commission knew of reports about disruptions but needed more information before commenting. She also said it had no indication that intelligence sharing with Ukraine had stopped. The timetable for full IRIS² operation does not mean all European satellite services remain unavailable until 2029.