US envoy warns European firms of retaliation over EU Starlink spectrum plan
US ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder warned that European companies could face severe consequences in the US market if Brussels reserves part of the spectrum for European satellite operators, the Financial Times reported. The European Commission says the proposal would encourage new suppliers and diversify the market while remaining open to non-EU operators; the rules still need to pass through the EU legislative process.
Bottom line — The proposed spectrum rules are not final, but Puzder has tied them to possible US retaliation against European businesses.
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Fakti.bg reports that the proposal covers the 2 GHz band, used for direct connections between satellites and mobile devices.
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Under the proposal described by Fakti.bg, one third of the spectrum would be reserved for government and critical services, and half of the commercial allocation for European operators.
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Fakti.bg says the new arrangement would follow the expiry of current operator licences in May 2027.
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SpaceX has argued that the plan could harm Starlink connectivity in Ukraine, where the network carries civilian and military communications, according to the Financial Times.
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The Financial Times reports that Puzder also criticised EU technology regulation and called for cooperation with Washington on artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
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Semafor reports that an EU satellite project is not expected to launch satellites until 2029.