Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus was the first European Union member state to activate the bloc’s new secure government satellite communications service, according to the head of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme. The agency said the development underlines Cyprus’ role in Europe’s space and security architecture.
GovSatCom activation
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail on the sidelines of EU Space Days, EUSPA executive director Rodrigo da Costa said Cyprus was the first country to make use of GovSatCom, the EU’s newly operational secure satellite communications capability for member states.
“We are very proud to say that Cyprus was the first country to use this capability,” he said, adding that five member states have secure SatCom capabilities and have made them available to the EU.
GovSatCom, which began operating earlier this year, provides secure satellite communications to EU governments through a shared European network for use in sensitive or critical situations where secure communications are required.
Da Costa declined to say how Cyprus used the capability.
“How Cyprus has used it, we don’t know. This is a matter of national sovereignty,” he said. “But Cyprus was number one.”
Request from the armed forces
He said the request came from the armed forces shortly after the service became operational in January, with Cyprus activating the capability around late February or early March.
“Certainly if it was requested by the government, it’s because it was necessary,” he said.
Strategic role
The revelation comes as Cyprus seeks to position itself as a regional player in technology, security and innovation, while also facing an increasingly volatile eastern Mediterranean security environment.
Da Costa said Cyprus’ geographic position and existing infrastructure make it an important contributor to Europe’s space capabilities.