The European Commission has opened its 2 GHz mobile satellite spectrum to non-European bidders, with SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Leo both eligible to compete starting in 2027.
Under rules approved May 27, 2026, two-thirds of the bandwidth is reserved for European operators, including the EU's IRIS2 constellation of 290 satellites. The remaining third is open to non-EU companies.
UK and Norwegian companies can bid for the reserved European portion due to their regulatory alignment with the bloc.
Existing US operators Viasat and EchoStar received a two-year license extension through May 2029.
The spectrum is designed for direct-to-device satellite services, connecting smartphones to satellites when cell towers are unavailable. This technology is critical for rural connectivity, emergency communications, and in-vehicle internet.
For Starlink, this adds a new access layer to its existing European operations. For Amazon Leo, still in early deployment, it provides a future market. Viasat and EchoStar gain a short-term reprieve but will face better-funded rivals in the 2027 auction.