Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite business could be allowed to bid for some of the European Union’s future mobile satellite spectrum as early as next year, two people familiar with the discussions tell Reuters. The EU is preparing a plan to allocate spectrum used for mobile connectivity in remote areas, while also aiming to reduce dependence on U.S. technology. According to the sources, about one-third of the spectrum would be open to all bidders, potentially including Starlink and Amazon. The remaining two-thirds is expected to be reserved for European companies.
The EU’s approach follows the scheduled expiration of spectrum licenses held by U.S. companies Viasat and EchoStar, with those contracts set to end in May 2027. The European Commission is expected to publish details of the proposal, alongside its broader satellite-connectivity goals, potentially on Wednesday, though one source says the plan could change during a commissioners’ meeting the same day. An EU “IRIS2” multi-orbit satellite array of about 290 satellites is described as likely to receive some of the reserved spectrum, along with other European entities such as firms in the UK and Norway. The Commission frames satellite connectivity as a matter of resilience and security.
