PARIS —The European Space Agency (ESA) and an industrial consortium led by satellite fleet operator SES contracted to build, launch and operate a satellite to test quantum key distribution as part of the European Commission’s Euro Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI) project.
Under the contract, valued at 130 million euros ($130 million), Sitael SpA of Italy will provide its new Platino all-electric satellite platform, expected to fly for the first time in 2023, for the ESA-SES Eagle-1 mission.
