Italy in talks over $1.5 billion SpaceX safety companies deal, Bloomberg Information reviews

(Reuters) -Italy is in superior talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX over a 1.5 billion euro ($1.55 billion) deal for the corporate to supply safe telecommunications to the federal government, Bloomberg Information reported on Sunday.

Discussions are ongoing and a closing settlement on the five-year contract has not been reached, however the venture has already been accepted by Italy’s Intelligence Companies and Defence Ministry, the report mentioned, citing unnamed sources.

SpaceX and Italy’s Defence Ministry didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ requests for remark exterior common enterprise hours.

The report mentioned the deal entails SpaceX supplying Italy with a full vary of encryption for phone and Web companies utilized by the federal government.

It additionally consists of communications companies for Italy’s navy within the Mediterranean space and the rollout of satellite tv for pc companies in Italy to be used in emergencies similar to terrorist assaults or pure disasters, it mentioned.

The information comes after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mentioned on Sunday she was able to work with Donald Trump after making a shock go to to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida to fulfill the president-elect earlier than his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Meloni has additionally cast an in depth relationship with billionaire tech CEO Elon Musk, an in depth Trump ally.

Reuters reported final month that Italy plans to start checks as early as January to see if the satellite-based connectivity provided by Musk’s Starlink is a viable resolution to boosting the rollout of high-speed web within the nation.

($1 = 0.9708 euros)