The European Union is preparing a proposal that could allow Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s low-earth-orbit satellite operations to secure access to part of Europe’s mobile satellite spectrum next year, according to Reuters and two people familiar with the discussions.
Per Reuters, the plan would still reserve roughly two-thirds of the spectrum for European companies as Brussels seeks to strengthen the region’s technological independence and reduce dependence on U.S. providers.
The spectrum in question supports direct connectivity for mobile phones and vehicles, enabling communication in remote areas where traditional networks may be unavailable. Current licences are held by U.S.-based satellite companies Viasat and EchoStar, whose rights expire in May 2027, according to Reuters.
Sources told Reuters that the EU’s IRIS2 satellite constellation project — a planned network of nearly 290 satellites intended as Europe’s answer to Starlink — is expected to receive part of the reserved spectrum allocation. British and Norwegian companies may also be eligible to participate in the licensing process.
The proposal is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, although one source cautioned that details could still change following discussions among European commissioners. According to Reuters, internal disagreements have emerged within the Commission over whether all of the spectrum should be limited exclusively to European businesses.
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One source said a commissioner advocating for a fully European-only allocation had clashed with EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen, who reportedly opposes excluding foreign companies entirely. The source added that Virkkunen was expected to prevail in the debate.
Asked about the matter on Tuesday, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier emphasized the strategic importance of satellite communications for the bloc.
“Satellite connectivity is synonymous with resilience, security, and capability” in the current geopolitical climate, Regnier said.
“Satellite connectivity is a key piece of our technological sovereignty, our security, and our defence, as also highlighted by IRIS2,” he added.
According to Reuters, the discussions come as Europe accelerates efforts to bolster domestic technology and communications infrastructure amid growing geopolitical tensions and competition in the satellite internet sector.
