The European Commission has selected a consortium of European companies involved in communications and satellite launches to study the possibility of creating a space-based communication system for Europe. The study will assess the feasibility of a new initiative aimed at strengthening European digital sovereignty and ensuring secure connectivity for citizens, businesses and public institutions, as well as providing global coverage for rural and "not spot" areas. This new EU flagship program, complemented by "Copernicus" and "Galileo", which has been given the green light, will fully leverage the synergy of technological potential, akin to the digital and space sectors. The contract for the one-year feasibility study is worth €7.1 million. The European Space Communication System, advocated by Commissioner Breton, is intended to provide secure communication services for the EU and its member states, as well as broadband connectivity for European citizens, companies and mobility sectors, strengthening the EU's digital sovereignty. It will be based on the European Union's GOVSATCOM program for combining and sharing satellite services and will provide a high level of reliability, resilience and security currently unavailable on the market; it will also leverage the EuroQCI initiative, which promotes innovative quantum cryptography technology. In particular, the study phase, commissioned by the European Commission, will combine user and mission requirements and provide preliminary architectural design and service delivery concepts, as well as corresponding budget estimates. This stage will examine and assess the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. The study will consider how the space system can enhance and connect to current and future critical infrastructure, including terrestrial networks, strengthening the EU's capabilities for cloud access and providing digital services in an independent and secure manner, which is necessary to build trust in the digital economy and ensure European strategic autonomy and resilience. It will use and strengthen the role of satellites in the 5G ecosystem, assessing compatibility, as well as taking into account the evolution towards future 6G technologies. This European sovereign infrastructure is intended to benefit a wide range of sectors, including automotive and maritime transport, air traffic and management, the development of autonomous vehicles, as well as a multitude of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It is designed to provide enhanced security in the transmission and storage of information and data, supporting the needs of various users, such as public institutions, financial and banking companies, scientific networks, critical infrastructure and data centers. The consortium members are: Airbus, Arianespace, Eutelsat, Hispasat, OHB, Orange, SES, Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space.