EU Weighing Spectrum Opening for Starlink and Amazon

Starlink and Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite business may be able to acquire access to European mobile satellite spectrum next year, as the EU considers how to allocate licences currently held by Viasat and EchoStar.

According to a report from Reuters quoting two ‌people with direct knowledge of the matter, the European Commission is preparing a proposal that would allow non-European companies to bid for part of the available mobile satellite spectrum, while reserving around two-thirds for European players. The spectrum supports satellite connectivity for mobile devices and vehicles, including in remote areas where terrestrial coverage is limited.

The proposal comes as the EU looks to strengthen its position in satellite communications while reducing dependence on U.S. technology providers. Europe’s IRIS2 constellation, a planned multi-orbit network of 290 satellites, is expected to be among the European-backed projects eligible to receive spectrum as part of the plan.

The approach reflects a balancing act between strategic autonomy and market openness. While some EU officials are said to favour reserving the spectrum entirely for European businesses, others are pushing to avoid excluding international operators outright. British and Norwegian companies are also expected to be eligible to bid.

For Starlink and Amazon, even partial access to European mobile satellite spectrum would represent a significant opportunity as demand grows for direct-to-device, connected vehicle and resilient communications services. At the same time, the proposed reservation for European companies underlines the EU’s intent to build sovereign satellite capacity alongside global commercial systems.

The final details remain subject to change, but the proposal points to a more structured European framework for next-generation mobile satellite services, and one that could shape how LEO operators compete across the region from 2027 onwards.