An Italian representative for US billionaire Elon Musk’s aerospace ventures has said Italy would retain full control over its data in any potential agreement with the tech guru’s Starlink satellite communications company.
Rome was said to be evaluating the use of Musk’s telecomms systems to facilitate encrypted communications for government officials, diplomats and defence personnel operating in high-risk regions.
The potential deal, reportedly valued at €1.5 billion over five years, has been criticised by opposition parties, who questioned whether sensitive government communications should be entrusted to a company owned by a US billionaire.
Starlink, a division of Musk’s SpaceX, operates a fleet of 6,700 satellites in low-Earth orbit and has established itself as a dominant player in the satellite communications sector.
Italy’s possible adoption of his satellite service for strategic communications has sparked opposition concerns over potential risks to national security and the nascent European satellite network.
“Data would remain entirely under the control of Italian institutions, allowing them to utilise US technology while safeguarding national interests,” Andrea Stroppa, an adviser to Musk, stated in an interview with Italian state broadcaster RAI on January 9.
Stroppa noted that discussions with the government had started before Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s tenure began in October 2022.
Meloni, whose strong relationship with Musk has drawn scrutiny from political opponents, has dismissed concerns that would influence the government’s evaluation of Starlink, which is far superior to European systems.
Italy’s potential use of Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service for strategic communications has raised concerns among opposition figures over a possible risk to national security. https://t.co/Ur2P8rR3OH
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 10, 2025
