SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon may be allocated a portion of Europe's mobile satellite spectrum next year, according to two informed sources on Tuesday. However, two-thirds of the spectrum will be reserved for European companies, enabling seamless communication for mobile devices and vehicles even in remote areas.

The licenses held by U.S. firms Viasat and EchoStar are set to expire in May 2027. As the European Commission considers how to allocate future spectrum resources, the EU is also working to reduce its reliance on U.S. technology.

In response to Starlink, the EU's IRIS2 multi-orbit satellite constellation, comprising 290 satellites, is among the European entities expected to receive part of the spectrum. Companies from the UK and Norway may also bid for licenses.

One source noted that details of the proposal, scheduled for release on Wednesday, could still change during a commissioners' meeting on the same day. Another source mentioned that one commissioner insisted on reserving all spectrum exclusively for European firms, creating a disagreement with EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen, who prefers not to exclude any company. The source suggested Virkkunen is likely to prevail in the debate.

When asked about the matter on Tuesday, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Reynier stated that EU-wide satellite coverage is "equivalent to resilience, security, and capability" given the current geopolitical context. He added, "As highlighted by IRIS2, satellite connectivity is a key component of our technological sovereignty, security, and defense."