Story perspectives

EU Reserves 2 GHz Band for Viasat, EchoStar Amid US Warning

5/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

The European Commission will adopt on Wednesday a decision reserving 2 GHz satellite band for operators, assigning it to Viasat and EchoStar, which Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said advances bloc’s technological sovereignty and defence resilience.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned that excluding firms could jeopardise treatment of U.S. companies in Europe.
Digital chief Henna Virkkunen backed telecom interests while Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius urged an IRIS² slice of the 2 GHz band.

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Story summary

The European Commission will adopt on Wednesday a decision reserving 2 GHz satellite band for operators, assigning it to Viasat and EchoStar, which Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said advances bloc’s technological sovereignty and defence resilience.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned that excluding firms could jeopardise treatment of U.S. companies in Europe.
Digital chief Henna Virkkunen backed telecom interests while Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius urged an IRIS² slice of the 2 GHz band.