The European Commission confirmed on May 27 that non-European satellite operators — including SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's low-earth-orbit venture — are eligible to bid for mobile satellite spectrum in the 2 GHz band. It's a meaningful regulatory opening that positions Starlink to compete directly for Direct-to-Device coverage across Europe, a market where it has already been quietly building carrier partnerships.
How the Spectrum Gets Divided
The allocation involves the harmonized 2 GHz frequency band (1980–2010 MHz and 2170–2200 MHz), which is specifically suited for Direct-to-Device services — the technology that lets satellites communicate directly with standard smartphones without any special hardware. According to the European Commission's proposal, the band is split into three roughly equal portions:
- One-third reserved for EU governmental use — covering critical communications, security, and military applications. This slice must be operated by a European provider integrated with the EU's IRIS² constellation, a 290-satellite multi-orbit array that Brussels is building as its sovereign answer to Starlink.
- One-third for EU commercial operators — open to European satellite companies competing in the consumer and enterprise market.
- One-third open to non-EU operators — this is the slice Starlink and Amazon can bid for. It represents a real foothold in European mobile satellite connectivity, not just a token gesture.
Current licenses for the 2 GHz band are held by U.S. companies Viasat and EchoStar, both of which expire in May 2027. Under the Commission's proposal, those licenses will receive a two-year transitional extension while the new selection process plays out. The proposal still requires debate and approval from EU member states and the European Parliament before it becomes law.
Why This Matters for Starlink
Starlink's V2 next-generation satellites are engineered specifically for Direct-to-Device broadband — delivering data, voice, and messaging straight to mobile phones without requiring a dish or gateway device. European regulatory access to the 2 GHz band would let Starlink activate that capability across the continent at scale.
The commercial groundwork is already being laid. Deutsche Telekom announced a partnership with Starlink to bring satellite-to-mobile connectivity to Germany and several other European markets by early 2028. In the UK — outside EU jurisdiction — Virgin Media O2 launched a Starlink-powered satellite-to-smartphone service as recently as February 2026. The EC's spectrum decision, if it clears the legislative process, would give those kinds of partnerships a regulatory foundation across the full EU single market.
For context on the competitive stakes: IRIS² is explicitly positioned as Europe's strategic alternative to Starlink, designed to reduce dependence on non-European infrastructure for critical connectivity. The fact that the Commission is simultaneously building IRIS² while opening one-third of the commercial band to U.S. operators reflects a deliberate balancing act — fostering competition and technological diversity while preserving European sovereignty over a defined slice of the spectrum.
The proposal's path to becoming law isn't immediate, and the actual bidding process won't begin until after current licenses expire in mid-2027. But the direction is clear: Starlink is being invited into the European mobile satellite market on regulated, competitive terms rather than being locked out. For SpaceX's global connectivity ambitions, that's a significant door opening. For our SpaceX coverage, this is one of the more consequential regulatory developments of the year.
Sarah focuses on Tesla Energy, SpaceX missions, and the broader Musk AI portfolio. Former data analyst in clean energy. Based in San Francisco.
Sources verified at publish time. Spotted an inaccuracy? Email editorial@basenor.com.
