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Europe’s Satellite Spectrum Proposal Clouds SpaceX and Viasat Plans
The proposal would leave Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper with only one-third of the band as Europe seeks greater satellite sovereignty.
- On Wednesday, the European Commission announced it will reserve two-thirds of the 2 GHz mobile-satellite-services band for European operators, allowing Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper to bid only for the remaining third starting next year.
- Starlink's critical role supporting Ukrainian troops after the Russian invasion prompted European concerns about dependence on U.S. satellite operators, spurring the EU to develop IRIS2 as part of a broader tech sovereignty initiative.
- The 2 GHz band comprises 30 MHz of harmonised EU-level frequencies enabling direct-to-device communications; IRIS2's 290-satellite constellation, built by the SpaceRISE consortium of SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, will provide governmental services beginning 2030.
- U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr warned the EU in March against favouring European providers, while Trump administration sources indicated potential reciprocal treatment if Europe excludes non-European operators from spectrum access.
- The spectrum decision precedes the Commission's Tech Sovereignty Package, positioning satellite connectivity as central to EU strategic independence, though internal divisions between digital chief Henna Virkkunen and Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius reflect the delicate balance of European autonomy.
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The EU intends to grant fewer licences to foreign satellite services for security-related frequencies, two thirds of which will be reserved for EU providers.
·Germany
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In the coming year, the licenses of US providers Viasat and EchoStar will expire and will have to be re-assigned. Two thirds will then go to European companies.
·Düsseldorf, Germany
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Europe’s satellite spectrum proposal clouds SpaceX and Viasat plans
Europe has proposed reserving two-thirds of 2 gigahertz mobile satellite spectrum up for renewal next year for European operators, complicating SpaceX’s direct-to-device ambitions and the outlook for Viasat’s European Aviation Network. The post Europe’s satellite spectrum proposal clouds SpaceX and Viasat plans appeared first on SpaceNews.
·Alexandria, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources34
Leaning Left4Leaning Right4Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution38% Center
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources are Center
38% Center
L 31%
C 38%
R 31%
Factuality
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