When Guglielmo Marconi helped usher in the age of wireless communications, he fundamentally changed how the world connects. Today, that pioneering spirit is finding new expression in space, as satellites become an increasingly important part of global communications infrastructure.
Europe is playing a significant role in this transformation. Recent developments in satellite communications reflect a growing commitment to secure, resilient, and globally accessible connectivity. At the center of this effort is IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite), the European Union’s ambitious satellite constellation designed to strengthen communications capabilities for governments, businesses, and communities.
In September, Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Italian technology leader Leonardo, announced an agreement to provide secure communications payloads for 330 low-Earth-orbit satellites as part of the IRIS² program. The agreement represents a significant step toward building Europe’s next generation of satellite infrastructure.
Companies including Leonardo and Telespazio reflect Italy’s continued leadership in space technology and satellite services, carrying forward a tradition of communications innovation that began with Marconi himself.
A New Era of Satellite Connectivity
Europe’s ambitions extend beyond building satellites. In October, four major European telecommunications operators, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone, announced plans to explore a joint bid for satellite spectrum to support direct-to-device connectivity.
The development reflects a broader industry shift: satellite networks are increasingly considered an extension of traditional mobile infrastructure rather than a separate communications system.
That shift is also creating opportunities for innovation across the global wireless ecosystem. Qualcomm, for example, is advancing standards-based 5G non-terrestrial network technology designed to bring satellite connectivity to mainstream mobile devices. These developments could help make connectivity more accessible in remote regions, strengthen communications during emergencies, and expand the reach of wireless services.
But technological progress brings new questions. How will satellite and terrestrial networks operate together? What business models will make these investments sustainable? And what partnerships will be necessary to deliver reliable connectivity at a global scale?
Bringing Global Wireless Leaders Together
These questions will be at the center of the Marconi Society’s Advanced Wireless Executive Forum on November 6, 2026, in San Francisco.
The Forum will bring together leaders from across the wireless ecosystem for candid discussions about the technologies, investments, and partnerships shaping the industry’s future.
A featured discussion, The New Economics of Non-Terrestrial Networks: Building the Next Layer of Global Connectivity, will include Massimo Claudio Comparini, Managing Director of Leonardo Space and Chairman of the Thales Alenia Space Supervisory Board, alongside leaders from Iridium, American Tower, and Radius Global Infrastructure.
Their discussion will explore what it takes to move satellite connectivity from technological possibility to commercial reality. More than a century after Marconi’s pioneering breakthroughs, the ambition remains remarkably familiar: connecting people across distances and overcoming the barriers that separate them.
What has changed is the scale of the opportunity. As Europe and the broader international wireless community invest in the next generation of connectivity, the need for collaboration across industries, technologies, and borders has never been greater.
The Marconi Society continues that tradition by bringing together the people and perspectives needed to help shape a more connected world.
Learn more about the Marconi Society’s 2026 Institute Forums
