Italy is currently engaged in advanced negotiations with SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, regarding a substantial contract valued at 1.5 billion euros (approximately $1.55 billion) for secure telecommunications services for the government, as reported by Bloomberg News on Sunday.
While discussions are still in progress and a definitive agreement on the five-year contract has yet to be finalized, the initiative has already received approval from Italy‘s Intelligence Services and the Defence Ministry, according to sources cited in the report.
The proposed agreement entails SpaceX delivering comprehensive encryption solutions for government telephone and internet communications. Additionally, it encompasses communication services for the Italian military operating in the Mediterranean and the deployment of satellite services within Italy for emergency situations, including terrorist threats or natural disasters.
This development follows Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s announcement on Sunday of her willingness to collaborate with Donald Trump after her unexpected visit to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to meet the president-elect ahead of his inauguration on January 20. Meloni has also established a strong rapport with Elon Musk, who is a notable ally of Trump. Furthermore, Reuters reported last month that Italy intends to initiate tests as early as January to evaluate the feasibility of Musk’s Starlink satellite-based connectivity as a means to enhance high-speed internet access across the country.
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