Italy is currently in advanced negotiations with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a deal valued at 1.5 billion euros ($1.55 billion). The agreement aims to provide secure telecommunications for the Italian government, according to a report by Bloomberg News.
The discussions are ongoing, and a final contract for the five-year agreement has not yet been finalized. However, Italy’s Intelligence Services and Defence Ministry have already approved the project, as indicated by unnamed sources.
Both SpaceX and Italy’s Defence Ministry did not respond immediately to requests for comments from Reuters outside of regular business hours.
The reported deal involves SpaceX providing a full range of encryption for government telephone and Internet services.
Additionally, it includes communications support for Italy’s military operations in the Mediterranean and the deployment of satellite services for emergency situations, such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
This news follows Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent announcement about her willingness to collaborate with Donald Trump. She made a surprise visit to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida to meet with the president-elect before his inauguration on January 20.
Meloni has developed a close relationship with Elon Musk, who is an ally of Trump.
According to a report from last month, Italy plans to start tests in January to determine if Musk’s Starlink satellite-based connectivity can enhance the rollout of high-speed internet across the country.
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