The image of European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, visiting an old military installation in Attica, which is now being transformed into a critical European secure communications hub, illustrates Europe’s new direction in security and critical infrastructure.
Greece is not just participating in another European Union technology project, but through the GOVSATCOM Hub, is taking an active role in the European secure communications architecture at a time when the geopolitical balance is changing and cyber threats are increasing.
The recent visit of the European Commissioner, together with the Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou, had a strong political and strategic symbolism. This project is being implemented by the Ministry of Digital Governance and is part of the European project GOVSATCOM (Governmental Satellite Communications), which is creating a single network of secure satellite communications for governments, security agencies and critical state agencies.
This program is scheduled to operate through 2051 and is designed to provide encrypted and resilient communications even in crisis or interference conditions. Its services will be used by Armed Forces, security services, civil protection agencies and emergency management mechanisms across Europe.
The choice of our homeland is not just a coincidence. According to the European Commission’s Executive Decision 2024/3195, Greece and Germany were selected as the two countries to host the ground infrastructure of the system.
The Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou said that “the development of the Greek GOVSATCOM Hub is a strategic step for the country and Europe in the field of secure government communications. In a period of heightened geopolitical tensions and complex threats, enhancing the security and resilience of critical communication infrastructures becomes crucial to ensure the continuity and reliability of services.”
As he said, “Greece is acquiring an essential role in the European secure communications architecture by hosting a critical infrastructure that will act as a satellite services hub for the European Union and its member states. This project exploits existing capabilities of the Armed Forces and combines them with modern technologies, enhancing Europe’s operational readiness and strategic autonomy”.
At the same time, he noted that the project is part of a more comprehensive strategy to upgrade the country’s critical digital and space infrastructure, with the aim of maintaining secure communications even in an environment of increased risks.
For his part, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Adrius Kubilius said after his visit that “Greece is really showing a very strong example to all EU and NATO member states on how to develop defence capabilities, both ground and space.”
He said the new facilities for GOVSATCOM services “are starting to operate and are bringing new services to the armies and security services,” adding that “we are building a new secure satellite communications system that will be extremely useful and Greece will play a very important role in it.”
The Greek Hub is being deployed at an inactive military facility in Attica, which is being fully upgraded. The project is funded by national resources and includes new secure communication networks, advanced physical protection systems and high-level cyber security infrastructure.
In practice, the GOVSATCOM Hub will be able to operate even when conventional communications networks have collapsed or are subject to cyber attacks and interference. Business continuity is a key element of the project design.
This project is also linked to the future European satellite system IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security by Satellite), which is a key objective of the European Union for autonomous and secure space communications. In this context, Greece can become a key operational centre for South Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
It should be noted that the country’s geographical position is considered critical, as Greece is at the crossroads of energy, defence and geopolitical developments between Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. For the European Union, the development of such infrastructure in the region enhances resilience and reduces dependence on non-European networks and third-party providers.
During the visit, the work in progress and the final form of the project were presented. At the same time, a tour of the Eastern Mediterranean Command (EMC) headquarters was conducted, where the capabilities of secure strategic communications and their future interconnection with the new European Hub were presented.
The GOVSATCOM is part of a broader strategy followed by Greece for the development of critical digital and space infrastructure. In recent years, the country has been investing in data centres, submarine cables, next-generation networks and satellite services, with the aim of becoming a regional connectivity and security hub.
Thus becoming a critical operational and geostrategic secure communications hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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