Teodoro Valente, the head of Italy's national space agency ASI, has assured that a potential partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink for secure satellite communications would not compromise national security.

Italy is exploring the use of Starlink's telecommunications systems to provide encrypted communications for government officials, embassies, and defense personnel in high-risk areas.

However, opposition parties have expressed concerns about relying on a company owned by Musk, a prominent U.S. tech billionaire, for communication security.

Despite these concerns, Valente has dismissed any technical doubts regarding the security of data involved in the potential agreement.

He emphasized that a deal with Starlink would utilize secure communications technology developed within Italy.

Valente also noted that using Starlink's services would not interfere with the European IRIS2 satellite constellation, which is designed to provide secure communications but is not expected to be operational until 2031.

Originally, the IRIS2 project was slated for readiness between 2026 and 2027, but it has faced delays.

The prolonged negotiations for the IRIS2 project have prompted Italy to seek alternative solutions more rapidly than anticipated.

Valente confirmed that ASI aims to complete a preliminary feasibility study for a national low-orbit satellite constellation by mid-2025, aligning with broader European initiatives.

Italy's space industry generates approximately 2 billion euros annually, but developing a low-orbit satellite solution will require several years, according to Valente.

Valente further highlighted the limitations of Italy's current satellite capabilities, stating, 'We do not have low-orbit satellites in warehouses.'