Greece has been selected as one of only two countries in the European Union to host a GOVSATCOM Hub, a critical ground station for encrypted, interference-resistant satellite communications serving EU governments, militaries, and security agencies. The other country is Germany. The selection is codified in European Commission Executive Decision 2024/3195.
The hub is being built on a formerly inactive military site in Attica, funded entirely by national resources. Once operational, it will serve armed forces, civil protection authorities, intelligence services, and crisis management agencies across Europe, and is designed to keep communications running even during natural disasters, hybrid attacks, or conventional network failures.
EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius visited the site alongside Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou. Kubilius said Greece is setting a strong example for all EU and NATO member states on how to develop both ground-based and space defense capabilities, adding that the new facilities are already bringing new services to armies and security agencies.
Papastergiou described the project as a strategic step for both Greece and Europe, stressing that during a period of heightened geopolitical tensions, securing critical communications infrastructure is essential for operational continuity. He also noted the hub will integrate existing Hellenic Armed Forces capabilities with modern technology.
The program is projected to remain active until 2051. Greece's geographic position between Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean is a key reason it was chosen, giving the EU a strategic anchor in one of its most contested regions. The hub is also expected to tie into IRIS², Europe's next-generation sovereign satellite connectivity system, potentially making Greece a central node for secure satellite services across southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
During the visit, officials also toured the Eastern Mediterranean Command Headquarters in Attica, where existing secure strategic communications capabilities were presented alongside plans for their future integration with the GOVSATCOM Hub.
