Italy Eyes $1.6B SpaceX Deal for Secure Telecoms

Italy is in advanced negotiations with Elon Musk's SpaceX for a five-year, $1.6 billion deal to provide secure telecommunications for its government. This massive project, already approved by Italian intelligence and defense, would encompass top-level encryption for government communications, military services in the Mediterranean, and direct-to-cell satellite services for emergencies. While boosting national security, the deal faces opposition from some officials concerned about its impact on local carriers. Negotiations, stalled until recently, reportedly advanced after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's meeting with President-elect Trump. Alternatives, including the EU's IRIS² and building a national constellation, were considered, but deemed far more expensive.