For years, satellite infrastructure was seen by policymakers as a technical utility rather than a strategic asset. That perspective shifted in 2022 when a cyberattack on the Viasat satellite network coincided with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Since then, satellites have become common targets for interference, espionage, and disruption. In June, the European Commission warned that space was becoming “more contested,” highlighting increasing cyberattacks and attempts at electronic interference directed at satellites and ground stations. Germany and the United Kingdom have also warned of the growing threat posed by Russian and Chinese satellites, which are frequently observed spying on their satellites.
EU governments are now hastening efforts to bolster their resilience and reduce reliance on foreign technology through regulations like the new Space Act and investments in critical infrastructure.
Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight, emphasized the threat in Greenland. He stated, “The problem today is that around 80 percent of all the [space data] traffic is downlinked to a single location in Svalbard, an island shared between various countries, including Russia.”
Europe’s primary Arctic ground station is located in Svalbard and supports the navigation systems of Galileo and Copernicus. While strategically located, it is also highly sensitive due to Russian and Chinese activities nearby. Importantly, the station relies on a single undersea cable for internet connectivity, which has been damaged multiple times.
“In case of intentional or unintentional damage to this cable, you lose access to most of the geo-intelligence satellites, which is, of course, very critical. So our aim is to deploy a complementary satellite ground station up in Greenland,” Mačiulis stated.
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