March 10, 2026
We seamlessly connect Europe and beyond through secure, space-enabled innovation
ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications builds strong partnerships and opportunities between institutions, industries and businesses, with the aim to reliably and securely connect everyone and everything, everywhere and at all times.
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ALL NEWSESA Connectivity and Secure Communications
€300M+
Funding distributed
1700+
Supported projects
1500+
Participating companies
We enable the digital transformation of society. ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications is responsible for coordinating, shaping, and supporting innovation in satellite communications to bring space technology benefits into daily lives.
Through the development of new satellite systems and services, our work and partnerships contribute to the advancement of Europe, making real-world impacts by securely connecting everybody and everything – whether in remote areas or travelling by car, boat or airplane. Our pioneering programmes aim to make European citizens’ lives easier, safer, and more connected on Earth, the Moon and beyond.
Programmes
We help your project grow, connect and innovate faster
Transforming investment into successful products and services
Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) 4.0
Through its generic and strategic programme lines, ESA’s ARTES 4.0 enables European and Canadian industry to explore innovative concepts that stimulate the wider economy, creating new business and jobs across every industry, through cutting-edge research and development. The programme supports the production of market-leading and innovative products and services within a fiercely competitive global satellite communications market, offering varying degrees of funding to projects, whatever their operational or commercial maturity.
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Enabling connectivity and navigation services on the lunar surface and to Earth
MOONLIGHT
Our Moonlight programme aims to lead Europe in enabling connectivity from the lunar surface and to the Earth, serving the needs of future missions by creating a constellation of satellites for connectivity on and from the Moon. The Moonlight programme works with industry to create a shared service in telecommunications and navigation, which is predicted to contribute to the activation of a lunar economy worth billions of Euros.
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Supporting the EU’s strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness
ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity (IRIS²)
ESA is cooperating with the European Commission to develop the EU's flagship multi-orbit secure telecommunications programme, the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²). The programme will provide the EU and its Member States with secure connectivity services for government authorities, businesses and citizens, as well as play a role in connecting underserved communities, to help bridge the digital divide.
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Our projects and partners
We work in close collaboration with industry and academia across Europe and Canada to further elevate the satellite communications sector of ESA’s Member States. Explore our activities and meet our partners.
How to work with us
Companies and organisations - whether small or large, new or experienced - can participate in our programmes: the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) 4.0, Moonlight, and the ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity (IRIS²).
We’re driving the competitiveness, autonomy and growth of European satellite communications
Funding
Various levels of financial support and technical risk mitigation, whatever the stage in your project’s development
Networking
Connect with stakeholders across our Member States – from Europe to Canada, and from industry to academia
Expertise
We boast decades of experience. Your project will receive the ESA stamp of authority and benefit from world-leading technical support and facilities
Agile process
Kickstart your satellite communications activity with the help of our flexible and fast application options
How to apply in 3 easy steps
Get started1
Check your eligibility
Identify the programme that fits your project
2
Prepare your proposal
Use our templates and guidelines to successfully submit your application
3
Submit your application
You’ll receive feedback on your proposal and can track it at every stage in the process
Careers with ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications
We bring together the best minds. Our teams include engineers, researchers, business developers, administrators and support staff. We have frequent vacancies at all career phases, from internships to senior management roles, and across all our establishments. Be a part of shaping how secure and reliable connectivity benefits our societies from now, and into the future. On Earth and beyond.
LATEST NEWS
ALL NEWS 
March 4, 2026
ESA’s flagship optical communications project awards Mynaric with contract to develop technology for its Demonstration System
March 4, 2026
ESA joins the O-RAN ALLIANCE to refine seamless satellite-to-smartphone connectivity
March 2, 2026