EU squeezes US satellite operators from spectrum

The European Commission has proposed reserving two thirds of a valuable satellite spectrum band for European operators after current licences expire. The measure is designed to support IRIS², strengthen European strategic autonomy and reduce long-term dependence on foreign satellite infrastructure providers.

• Two 10MHz blocks ring-fenced for IRIS² constellation and European start-ups
• Spectrum reservation sets sovereignty template for European satellite policy

The fact

The European Commission has agreed on a proposal that would reserve two thirds of a strategically important satellite spectrum band for European operators when existing mobile satellite licences expire. The spectrum would be divided into three 10MHz blocks over a twenty-year period. One block would support secure government communications, including the EU's IRIS² constellation, another would be reserved for European start-ups, while a third could be awarded to either European or non-European operators.

The Assessment

The proposal shifts spectrum access from a market-driven regime to one built on strategic autonomy. Brussels is treating satellite connectivity as a sovereignty asset, not a telecoms resource. For BTW readers, the signal is clear: spectrum allocation is becoming a geopolitical filter. US operators such as SpaceX and Amazon Kuiper face constrained European expansion, while domestic start-ups gain a ring-fenced corridor. The measure also creates fresh transatlantic tension over spectrum access and technology policy.

What to Watch

Whether EU member states preserve the two-thirds European allocation past 2027, and whether Washington responds with reciprocal spectrum or trade measures.