Italy is assessing the market as it searches for a satellite communications provider, and could launch a tender later this year, the CEO of Franco-British satellite operator Eutelsat ETL said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is seeking to secure encrypted communications for government, diplomatic, and defence officials in high-risk areas, with Elon Musk’s Starlink and Eutelsat considered potential providers for this system.

“Starlink ties Italy very closely to the U.S. but as you have seen with Ukraine, it requires a continuation of good relations with Elon Musk to guarantee sovereignty,” Eutelsat’s head Eva Berneke said at a hearing with French lawmakers.

On Saturday, Italy’s defence minister said talks with Starlink had stalled.