Overview
- The European Commission published the proposal on Wednesday and would reserve one third of the 2 GHz band specifically for state use, for critical communications, security and military needs.
- Under the plan the remaining two thirds would be for commercial use and split so half of that commercial capacity is set aside for new EU entrants while the other half may go to established EU or non‑EU operators.
- Current EU‑wide licences held by U.S. operators Echostar and Viasat expire in May 2027, which fixes the deadline for reallocating the band and means final assignments still depend on approval by the European Parliament and member states.
- Major non‑EU LEO players such as SpaceX/Starlink and Amazon/Kuiper are expected to seek access or challenge restrictions, which could lead to industry pushback and international negotiations with the United States.
- The 2 GHz band matters for direct‑to‑device services and emergency links, so the proposal is pitched as a security and sovereignty measure that would boost IRIS², help new European suppliers, and affect connectivity in rural and crisis situations.