• EU proposes three-way split of 2 GHz satellite spectrum
• SpaceX warns fragmentation may hinder Starlink D2D rollout
The fact
The European Commission proposed a framework for the 2 GHz mobile satellite services spectrum ahead of EchoStar and Viasat licence expiry in May 2027. The band splits into three equal parts: one for a government operator linked to the EU's IRIS² programme, one for EU-based commercial operators, and one for non-EU companies. Existing licences would extend two years during the transition. SpaceX opposes the plan via Starlink, arguing that band fragmentation reduces efficiency and IRIS² integration creates interference risks that could limit direct-to-device services.
The assessment
The proposal reveals the EU's push to control satellite infrastructure through regulatory allocation. IRIS² ties government communications to domestic commercial development. SpaceX rejects this model, arguing that LEO networks need wide, continuous spectrum to operate efficiently. The clash pits an allocation-based, regulatory approach against a global, network-led one.
For BTW readers, this matters because satellite spectrum fragmentation at 2 GHz affects how direct-to-device connectivity integrates with terrestrial mobile networks—the boundary between satellite and ground infrastructure is where spectrum policy meets actual internet access.
What to watch
Whether EU regulators maintain the strict one-third split or adjust allocations for non-EU operators like Starlink. How the two-year licence extension shapes interim D2D service planning in Europe.