The European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, rejected criticism that the Commission proposal on the future allocation of the spectrum in the 2 GHz band for mobile satellite services (MSS) does not set aside a dedicated allocation for the IRIS² programme, intended to become Europe’s first multi-orbit satellite network (see EUROPE 13875/6).
“At present, IRIS² does not have a constellation capable of operating in this frequency band, but that could be the case in future”, Ms Virkkunen said in response to MEP Christophe Grudler (Renew Europe, French), who had asked her why the Commission had not reserved the spectrum “dedicated” to the IRIS² programme, an issue “essential for European Union”.
During a debate on the tech sovereignty package, held on 3 June within the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Ms Virkkunen replied that “if such a constellation is developed”, the IRIS² programme could be integrated into the first block of frequencies reserved for secure communications, accessible only to European companies, and stressed the importance of enabling the development of new commercial services based on innovative technologies.
Of the 30 MHz of capacity concerned, 10 MHz will be reserved for European providers of governmental services, including in the field of defence, a further 10 MHz for European suppliers of commercial services, while the remaining 10 MHz will be open to operators of commercial services established both in the European Union and outside it. (Original version in French by Ana Pisonero Hernández)