A legal challenge is underway in France after the telecoms regulator granted a 10-year spectrum licence for a low-Earth orbit satellite internet network operated by a major US technology firm. The dispute arises from complaints that the regulator did not conduct the required market analysis, failed to consult the national competition authority and skipped an expected competitive bidding process for the scarce frequencies.
The licence, awarded in July, covers satellite internet services aimed at enterprise customers, with a broader rollout planned for 2026. The firm’s constellation already includes dozens of satellites launched this year, and the licence positions the operator to compete directly in Europe with established providers operating in the same space.
Beyond procedural concerns, the challenge flags deeper strategic and security issues. The union bringing the case argues that allowing a non-European operator access to critical spectrum raises national-security, emergency-communications and data-protection risks. With other operators already established in the market, regulators and industry participants now face intensified scrutiny of how spectrum is managed and awarded.
The central question remains whether this case will force a reassessment of spectrum-licence allocation practices, particularly for foreign operators in sectors deemed strategically sensitive. If the licence is annulled or significantly delayed, it could set a precedent for how nations safeguard control over critical communications infrastructure while balancing the need to attract investment and technological innovation.
