Apogeo Space on Space Diplomacy at Countdown SkyTG24

From strategy to diplomacy: how space connectivity can unite nations

The interview explored how space can serve not only as a strategic domain, but also as a platform for peaceful international collaboration, with a focus on the role of Apogeo Space’s satellite constellation in promoting connectivity and cooperation among different countries.

Space, as NATO has stated, is not only a domain to be safeguarded, but also embodies the idea of peaceful international collaboration, capable of improving and sometimes initiating relationships between governments.
This is what we call Space Diplomacy.

Guido Parissenti, your constellation will also be very useful in providing services, for example, to African countries. Can we consider it a platform for space diplomacy capable of connecting different governments and peoples?

Apogeo Space’s satellite constellation is dedicated to providing connectivity services for the Internet of Things, connecting low-data-rate, low-power devices that are often located in areas without terrestrial connectivity.

This is certainly the case in Africa, where many countries are interested in monitoring their resources and infrastructures. Space can and absolutely must serve as a means of space diplomacy, where the provision of services such as training or even entire assets — like full satellites — can represent a form of diplomacy and interaction between often distant peoples.

The growing presence of private companies is changing the balance in space. Why is it strategic for Italy to invest in this sector?

The presence of new private actors is significantly changing commercialization and innovation dynamics in the space sector. Italy holds a leading position in this field — it is the third-largest contributor to the European Space Agency and possesses strategic capabilities such as Earth observation, as well as a complete value chain, including the ability to manufacture and launch its own satellites via the Vega launcher.

Italy must not lose this leadership. It must continue investing in space as it has in the past, possibly also through public-private partnerships or by supporting startups and SMEs — not merely through financing, but by awarding contracts from public administrations, thus providing these companies with a revenue base from which they can grow.