Italy is in advanced discussions with Elon Musk’s space exploration company SpaceX regarding a deal to provide secure telecommunications to the Italian Government, according to Bloomberg.
The deal, which could be the largest of its kind in Europe, would be worth €1.5 billion. Discussions are ongoing, and no final agreement has been reached, sources have confirmed.
It comes shortly after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid an unofficial visit to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Florida residence over the weekend. On Monday, the far-right Italian government led by Meloni announced it is in talks for a deal with Space X, owned by Trump ally Elon Musk.
The project has already received approval from Italian intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Defence. The plan includes communication services for the Italian military in the Mediterranean region and the deployment of direct-to-cell satellite services in Italy for emergency situations such as terror attacks or natural disasters.
However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office has denied discussing any contract or deal with SpaceX during her recent trip to meet US President Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister’s office called the reports "ridiculous," according to Italian news agency ANSA. While they did not deny past discussions with SpaceX, they clarified these are part of the government’s regular exploratory talks with companies dealing in secure encrypted communication.
Italy has been exploring the potential deal since 2023, Bloomberg reports. Some Italian officials have expressed concerns that the services might negatively impact local providers. The company currently serves over 4 million people across more than 100 countries and regions. Starlink is already active in Italy, providing broadband internet through a network of over 7,000 satellites.
The opposition has also expressed concerns over a potential deal with SpaceX. Giuseppe Conte of the Five Star Movement accused Meloni of putting Italy’s security in the hands of Elon Musk. He called for the Prime Minister and the entire government to address the issue in parliament, stressing the importance of cybersecurity, protection of personal data, and the overall impact on democratic processes.
