EU Reserves Majority of Satellite Spectrum for Europe, Restricts Non-EU Cloud Tenders
AMZN•Brussels will reserve most mobile satellite spectrum for European firms while allowing SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Leo to bid on leftover frequencies next year. A June 3 decision will limit non-EU cloud providers in EU tenders, challenging Amazon’s lead in Europe’s cloud market.
1. Spectrum Allocation Compromise
Brussels has agreed to reserve the majority of mobile satellite spectrum for EU-based companies in the next allocation cycle, while carving out a smaller portion that SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s low-earth-orbit network, Leo, can bid on. This compromise aims to bolster EU firms’ market position without fully excluding existing non-European players.
2. Cloud Tender Restrictions
The European Commission will finalize new cloud procurement rules on June 3 that prioritize European cloud providers and impose conditions on non-EU firms. With Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure currently holding a combined 63% of the global market, these rules could reduce AWS’s share in EU public sector contracts and prompt shifts in vendor selection.
