SpaceX and the Italian government have been discussing a special Starlink service and could be near finalizing a five-year contract for it in a deal worth an estimated $1.6 billion, according to a new report.

If finalized, SpaceX would provide encrypted internet and communications services via Starlink for the nation's government. Starlink more broadly is already available in Italy, so this new service would be more customized.

Italy's Defense Ministry and Intelligence Services have authorized the potential service, Bloomberg reports on Monday, citing sources familiar with the situation. The Italian government confirmed to the outlet that discussions over the potential deal were ongoing, adding that the conversations are "a part of normal government business."

Italy has reportedly considered Starlink alternatives like the European Union's IRIS² or launching its own satellites. But such options would be substantially more expensive, with each of those options costing $10.4 billion, Bloomberg says. The IRIS² constellation will make the EU less reliant on SpaceX, but will be smaller and won't be fully available until the early 2030s.

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has spent time with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and the two seemingly get along quite well. Meloni recently called Musk "a gifted man" and an "extraordinary innovator."

"It makes me laugh a bit that there are people who used to praise him as a genius but today depict him as a monster, just because he has chosen the ‘wrong’ political camp, as they see it," Meloni said in an interview with Italian news outlet Corriere Della Sera this month, referring to Musk's support for the US Republican party and President-elect Donald Trump.

Musk has also shared his support for Meloni, previously stating Meloni is "even more beautiful inside than outside." Speculation around their relationship lead Musk to publicly deny any sort of "romantic relationship" between them last year.

Meloni met with Trump on Saturday but the two did not discuss the possible Starlink deal, the Italian government said.

By: DocMemory
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