The European Commission has set post-2027 rules for prime 2 GHz S-band spectrum for mobile satellite services (MSS) in EU member-state territories, structuring access around sovereignty objectives.
After 2027, one third of the 2 GHz MSS band is dedicated to governmental use, including critical communications, security, and military services. The remaining two thirds are allocated to commercial providers for mobile-based direct-to-device (D2D) and internet-of-things (IoT) services, with the EC providing that the second tranche is split evenly between EU-based MSS entrants and everyone else, including EU and non-EU satellite operators.
Richard Hass, a spectrum policy consultant at LS Telecom UK, said the framework is not a spectrum auction and described it as a hybrid beauty contest with three separate tracks and a one-off payment offered in a sealed bid. Under the EC approach, bidders must promise to serve 95% of the population within five years, helping shape future global broadband satellite services across the region.