Sovereign Signals – Europe's Path to Secure Satellite Communications
May 12, 2026 / 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. / Lecture Hall I, Poppelsdorf Campus (Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 5, 53115 Bonn)
Satellites are critical infrastructure from a security, economic, and social perspective—and therefore attractive targets for cyberattacks. Whether from state actors, hacker groups, or faulty software, the threat to satellite-based communication systems is growing steadily. Europe faces the challenge of making its orbital communication channels resilient, encrypted, and independent.
This session is dedicated to the interface between space and cyber security: How can satellites, ground stations, and data transmission be protected against manipulation, espionage, and interference? What strategies are European institutions such as ESA, EUSPA, and the EU Commission pursuing as part of the planned “Secure Connectivity” program? And what role do quantum communication, cryptographic algorithms, and dual-use systems play in this context?
There is a particular focus on the geopolitical dimension of secure communication: To what extent is Europe currently dependent on non-European systems? How can a European system such as IRIS² ensure greater independence and protection? And how can a balance be struck between technical excellence, data protection, political controllability, and financial viability?
The event is being held in cooperation with the German Space Agency, the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the German Armed Forces Space Command, the Society for Security Policy (GSP), the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the Research Network for Security and Technology in Space (SichTRaum), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Bonn-Rhein-Sieg), the Bonn Adult Education Center, and the ASTRA student association.
Procedure
Welcome:
Dr. Enrico Fels
Managing Director of the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS)
Lecture followed by discussion:
Dr. Björn Gütlich
Head of the Satellite Communication Department at the German Aerospace Center (DLR)
In close cooperation with:
