EU countries, lawmakers likely to clinch deal next week on satellite internet system

BRUSSELS: EU countries and European Parliament lawmakers are likely to reach a deal on a 6-billion-euro ($6 billion) satellite internet system next week, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, driven by the bloc’s push to cut its dependency on foreign companies and the Ukraine war.

The European Commission announced the initiative to build and operate a satellite internet system in February, part of EU industry chief Thierry Breton’s campaign for strategic autonomy.