EU weighs reserving two-thirds of the 2 GHz satellite band, limiting Starlink and Kuiper

The European Commission is preparing a plan to reserve two-thirds of the 2 GHz mobile satellite spectrum for European operators, leaving Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper to compete for the remaining third. The licenses cover 30 MHz paired blocks at 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz and run until May 2027. IRIS2, a 290-satellite constellation backed by a December 2024 contract worth about €10.5 billion, is positioned to benefit most once services begin in 2030.