Elon Musk has expressed his willingness to provide Italy with secure communication services, offering advanced connectivity through his company SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network. This statement came after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied that the issue had been raised during her weekend visit to the United States to meet with incoming US President Donald Trump.
While Meloni’s office dismissed any suggestion that SpaceX was discussed with Trump, it acknowledged that discussions with companies providing secure communication services, including data encryption, are a regular part of state department activities. Despite the denial, Bloomberg News reported that Italy’s negotiations with SpaceX, which had previously stalled, had gained momentum following Meloni’s meeting with Trump.
Musk, who has developed a strong relationship with Meloni, took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that he was “ready to provide Italy the most secure and advanced connectivity!” SpaceX’s Starlink has been operational in Italy since 2021, though its customer base remains modest, with around 50,000 users.
Italy is evaluating the use of Starlink to improve internet access in remote areas and is also considering its use for diplomatic and defense communications in high-risk regions. The government is reportedly looking into a potential defense contract with Starlink, which could cost around 1.5 billion euros over five years.
The potential deal has sparked calls from Italy’s opposition party for more transparency in parliament, with some questioning the lack of clarity around any official agreement. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has defended the potential contract, acknowledging that Musk’s Starlink offers a unique solution for low-orbit connectivity, which European alternatives would take years to develop.
