The EU is to launch plans for a multibillion-euro satellite internet system to compete with the likes of Amazon and SpaceX despite previous objections from its internal watchdog.

Brussels’ initiative to provide encrypted broadband coverage will be unveiled on Tuesday in amended form after proposals were twice rejected by the European Commission’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board. The board — which vets impact assessments for proposals put forward by the commission — believed the scheme would waste money and compete with commercial services, according to EU officials.

The Secured Communications initiative has been put forward by Thierry Breton, the internal market commissioner, who wants the EU to build a third satellite system in lower earth orbit (LEO) for secured communications and access to the internet. The EU already has Galileo, a global navigation system, and Copernicus, which is used for earth observation.