Cyprus has become the first European Union member state to activate the EU's new secure satellite communications service, GovSatCom, marking a significant advancement in its strategic role within Europe's space and security framework. This revelation was made by Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), during the EU Space Days. The service, which started operations earlier this year, aims to provide enhanced, secure communication channels for EU governments, particularly in sensitive situations requiring heightened security.

The activation, which occurred between late February and early March, was initiated by the country's armed forces shortly after GovSatCom became functional in January. While details of how Cyprus used the service remain confidential, the decision underscores Cyprus's pivotal geographic and infrastructural contributions to Europe's space capabilities. Additionally, Cyprus hosts essential European satellite infrastructure, including one of the Medium Earth Orbit Local User Terminals that supports Galileo-enabled search-and-rescue operations.