Italy’s Talks with SpaceX

(Reuters) – Italy is in advanced talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX over a 1.5 billion euro ($1.55 billion) deal for secure telecommunications for the government, according to Bloomberg News.

Current Status

Discussions are ongoing, with a final five-year contract yet to be reached. However, the project has received approval from Italy’s Intelligence Services and the Defence Ministry, as reported by unnamed sources.

Details of the Deal

The agreement involves SpaceX providing Italy with encryption for telephone and Internet services used by the government. It may also include communications services for the military in the Mediterranean and the rollout of satellite services in emergencies, such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

Political Context

This news follows Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s meeting with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, where she expressed her willingness to collaborate with him. Meloni has also established a close relationship with Elon Musk, who is a Trump ally.

In related news, Reuters noted last month that Italy aims to start tests in January to assess whether Musk’s Starlink satellite-based connectivity can help enhance high-speed Internet access in the country.

($1 = 0.9708 euros)