Greece has been selected as the base of one of two hubs of the European Union's secure satellite telecommunications programme GOVSATCOM.
As stated in a joint announcement by the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Digital Governance, by decision European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Greece has been selected, together with Germany, to assume a central role in the implementation of one of the most critical security infrastructures of the EU, which will operate in the country until at least 2051.
The GOVSATCOM HUB that will operate in Greece, as part of the European Space Programme, will be the hub for managing and providing secure satellite communications for critical infrastructures of all EU member states without any possibility of interference from third countries or other external threats.
The announcement highlights that this is a project that strengthens the geopolitical position of the country and makes it a key player in the security architecture of the European Union.
Hosting the GOVSATCOM HUB places Greece at the epicentre of European developments in the fields of innovation and security.
At the same time, the announcement added, it will attract significant investments and specialised personnel in the field of space technology, strengthening the domestic ecosystem.
"The decision to install one of the two GovSatCom satellite communications hubs in our country highlights the geopolitical and strategic role of Greece as a pillar of security and stability of the European Union," National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias stressed.
"Hosting the hub in Attica is also a practical confirmation of the confidence shown by the European Union in our infrastructure and operational capabilities. The GovSatCom hub will ensure secure and reliable satellite communications for the country’s defence, the protection of critical infrastructure and crisis management in the European Union," he added.
"At the same time, it paves the way for the further development of our satellite capabilities and the upgrading of our position as a reliable partner in European and international programmes," Dendias concluded.
On his part, the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, stated: "The choice of Greece as one of the two seats of the European GOVSATCOM is a clear recognition of our progress in the technological sector. With systematic effort, our country is establishing itself as an innovation hub at the European level, a fact that is particularly crucial for the broader development path and the strengthening of the domestic technological ecosystem."