Starlink and Amazon could snap up EU mobile satellite spectrum

Date:
Wed, 27 May 2026 14:25:00 +0000

Description:
Viasat, EchoStar contracts end in one year one-third of European satellite spectrum likely opened up to all, including Starlink, Leo.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter European 2GHz satellite
spectrum likely to be divided into European and non-European allocations Starlink and Amazon Leo could bid for space in the remaining third from May 2027 UK and Norway will be permitted to bid for space in the European two-thirds allocation While the European Commission plans to reserve around two-thirds of the 2GHz mobile satellite spectrum for European companies, non-EU rivals are reportedly scrambling to snap up the remaining third.

And none other than Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon 's Leo, formerly Project Kuiper, are rushing to acquire the remaining allocation. There will, of course, be some exceptions to the EU-only rule in that UK and Norway
companies will also be able to bid for space on the European two-thirds allocation, leaving that remaining third up for grabs by some of the biggest players in the game. Latest Videos From You may like VodafoneThree gets Ofcom approval to bring satellite connectivity to your smartphone FCC ruling means faster speeds and greater reliability for space satellites Geopolitical tensions create new risks for satellite operators globally One-third of European allocation likely to be snapped up by Starlink, Amazon Leo At the moment, the spectrum is held by US firms Viasat and EchoStar, whose contracts come to an end in one year. Rather than renewing them, Europe's restructured allocation rules will not only give European companies a fighting chance to acquire space, but it will also enable other non-EU companies to bid for space.

IRIS2, a 290-satellite constellation, will be among the European schemes to get space under the two-thirds allocation, an exclusive Reuters report details.

Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier cited "resilience, security, and capability" when asked for comment the Commission's recent efforts to
improve European company market share and to reduce reliance on US tech
giants has not gone unnoticed across the entire industry.

The report also introduces the possibility of reserving the entire spectrum for European companies, however Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy VP Henna Virkkunen is believed to have expressed a desire not to exclude any company from the bids, hence the likely third/two-thirds
proposal. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

More details are expected to come from the Commission soon, however no update was provided at the time of writing. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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