Exclusive: European companies set to receive two thirds of future mobile satellite spectrum, rest for non-EU firms, sources say

• European firms will receive approximately 67% of the mobile satellite spectrum allocation, while non-EU companies including Starlink and Amazon's Leo get the remaining 33%
• The spectrum reallocation affects licenses currently held by U.S. companies Viasat and EchoStar, set to expire in May 2027
• The EU executive will conduct the formal spectrum allocation process in 2026, representing a significant shift toward favoring European satellite operators

Summary

The European Commission plans to allocate two-thirds of valuable mobile satellite spectrum to European companies, with the remaining third available to non-EU competitors including Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper (referred to as Leo in the article), according to sources familiar with the matter.

Key Details:

• Timeline: The EU executive will conduct the spectrum allocation next year (2026)
• Expiration date: The spectrum currently held by U.S. companies Viasat and EchoStar expires in May 2027
• Allocation split: 67% reserved for European firms, 33% open to non-European companies

Market Implications:

This decision represents a strategic move by the EU to prioritize domestic satellite operators in the increasingly competitive low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communications market. The allocation creates a significant advantage for European companies while still allowing access to major American players like Starlink and Amazon's satellite internet business.

The policy could impact the competitive landscape for global satellite broadband services, as spectrum access is crucial for operating mobile satellite networks. U.S. companies Viasat and EchoStar face losing their current spectrum holdings in the European market, potentially requiring them to compete for the limited one-third allocation available to non-EU firms.

Companies Mentioned:

• Starlink (Elon Musk)
• Amazon (Project Kuiper/Leo)
• Viasat (current spectrum holder)
• EchoStar (current spectrum holder)

This development underscores Europe's effort to maintain strategic autonomy in critical telecommunications infrastructure amid growing global competition in the satellite internet sector.