Recently, the debate on Italy’s digital sovereignty has become intertwined with the name of Elon Musk and, in particular, his Starlink satellite constellation. The question many are asking is: how can a U.S. project support a European country’s ambitions to protect and strengthen its technological independence? Why rely on Starlink and SpaceX instead of waiting for the competing European project, which – at least for the moment – still seems to be lagging behind? The answer, paradoxically, lies precisely in the need to keep pace with global technological evolution and not to lose strategic opportunities, especially in an area, such as satellite infrastructure, that is crucial to a nation’s security (including economic security).
Starlink: An Immediate Alternative for Italy
As Europe works on its own satellite connectivity system – tentatively called IRIS² – development time, bureaucratic complexities and funding requirements could delay its full operation for years. Meanwhile, the need for broadband, ubiquitous coverage and infrastructure resilience is growing.
Starlink, on the other hand, is already up and running. Its connectivity services are available in several areas, including remote areas often neglected by traditional operators. For Italy, joining an already active program means
- Reducing the digital divide: providing fast Internet in places where terrestrial coverage (cable or fiber) is complicated or very expensive.
- Increase resilience: Having a parallel communications network that is independent of terrestrial infrastructure. This is particularly useful in the event of natural disasters or emergencies that could knock out traditional networks.
- Accelerating technological development: Access to innovative solutions at a speed that Europe is currently struggling to ensure.
National security: the risk of dependence on foreign technology
Critics argue that entrusting such a strategic part of national connectivity to a U.S. company entails security risks. The argument is sensitive: data and information of military, political and economic importance would pass through satellites and technologies under the control of a non-European company. A legitimate fear, but one that can be mitigated by taking into account various aspects.
Regulation:.
- National regulation and supervision. Italy and the European Union have regulatory tools to monitor and regulate the provision of connectivity services by foreign players. Frequency use authorizations, satellite roaming agreements and cybersecurity protocols are negotiated, signed and supervised by national and European authorities.
Supervision and contracts:
- The idea of an external platform acting indiscriminately is unrealistic because – to operate – SpaceX must comply with strict laws, standards and protocols.
- Privacy and European Standards. The EU has one of the most advanced regulatory frameworks for data protection (think GDPR). This framework also impacts non-European companies offering services in our territory, imposing clear conditions on where and how data can be processed and stored.
- Redundancy, not exclusivity. Integrating Starlink into Italy’s infrastructure does not mean abandoning all other channels, but rather adding an extra layer of security. Italy would continue to use its existing services and partnerships, while Starlink would provide additional power and coverage in specific areas (mountainous areas, underserved areas, emergency contexts). Moreover, when Europe is ready with its own satellite system, Italy will also be able to join the EU solution, creating a hybrid model that further reduces the risks of dependency or monopoly.
- Operational transparency and strategic partnerships. Those who fear Musk’s “interference” in Italian decisions underestimate the bargaining power of governments and public institutions. If Italy decides to use Starlink in particularly sensitive areas (e.g. military), it will do so through joint agreements and plans, with precise operational guarantees. The experience already gained in other countries shows how it is possible to sign contracts that protect the confidentiality and sovereignty of each state.
Starlink in the Armed Forces: Opportunities and Challenges
It is the military sector that has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks, as the hypothesis of entrusting part of the armed forces’ communications to a foreign operator, however innovative, inevitably raises questions about the protection of confidentiality and the risks of interference. It is understandable that a country wants to ensure maximum autonomy in its strategic decision-making processes, especially when it comes to national defense. However, certain factors must be taken into account:
- Control instruments and specific contracts. If the Italian authorities intend to use Starlink for military purposes, this will be done (as has already happened in other states) through specific bilateral agreements and technical protocols that delimit access to data and establish security measures. These agreements may include proprietary encryption systems, information retention rules, and audit clauses by national intelligence services.
- International Experience. The use of Starlink in conflict contexts – such as in the case of Ukraine – has already highlighted the potential and criticality of a privately operated satellite communications system. But it has also shown how, if properly regulated, it can ensure continuity of service in extreme situations. Italy may be able to develop its own arrangements, drawing on lessons learned in other scenarios.
- Cooperation with Allies. Italy is part of NATO and other strategic alliances: a part of military communications already runs on common channels or infrastructures that are not only “made in Italy”. This does not mean surrendering its sovereignty, but knowing how to select and integrate the best technologies, while ensuring security guarantees through the exchange of information and the definition of common standards.
- The European Perspective. When Europe launches its IRIS² satellite system, the Italian Armed Forces may consider integrating both solutions – Starlink and the EU project – to ensure wider coverage and greater redundancy, minimizing the risk of relying on a single supplier.
Finally, the discussion of potential security risks should not be underestimated, but neither should it be exaggerated. It is common practice for key sectors, such as the military, to adopt stricter protocols under the direct supervision of the state, even when relying on foreign private partners. Contracts, certifications, and the political will to demand transparency make the difference.
Integrated strategy: Leveraging Today, Investing for Tomorrow
With Starlink, we already have a reliable, fast, global connectivity system. To abandon it out of sheer mistrust would be to leave some areas of our country without coverage and to give up a tool that is changing the global balance of communications.
On the other hand, it would be equally wrong not to invest – in the long term – in the European satellite system, which, when fully operational, could not only guarantee greater autonomy, but also create jobs, stimulate innovation and strengthen the EU space industry. The ideal is therefore an integrated strategy: exploiting the SpaceX constellation in the short term and, in parallel, supporting the design and construction of the European network so that it can become a concrete and competitive option.
True digital sovereignty is not expressed in an a priori rejection of any collaboration with foreign entities, but rather in the ability to regulate, manage and exploit these collaborations to one’s own advantage. If, in the immediate future, Starlink is the quickest way to provide Internet coverage to the entire territory via satellite, Italy would do well not to lag behind and wait for a project that will probably not see the light of day for several years.
What is important is that the state continues to oversee the regulatory aspect, guarding data security and ensuring that the agreements with SpaceX protect national interests. In the meantime, it is hoped that Europe will be able to accelerate its plans, catch up, and soon offer a self-sufficient alternative. But in the present, when it comes to infrastructures that are crucial for competitiveness and the lives of citizens, we cannot afford to wait. And in this sense, Italy’s digital sovereignty also runs on the satellite trajectories of Starlink. Can we really afford to wait while the world moves forward?