Several licences to use radio frequencies that were awarded by Arcep for the operation of mobile satellite networks will be expiring in the coming years. The reassignment of the frequencies associated with these licences is of strategic import for the sector, and especially for: investment in satellite systems, competition, regional digital development, and innovation. A first public consultation on this matter was held from September to November 2025.
New mobile satellite services, IoT, D2D… stakeholders are invited to share their views on the assignment of L-band spectrum by 30 September 2026.
The licences awarded in the 1518 – 1559 MHz, 1610 – 1660.5 MHz, 1670 – 1675 MHz and 2483.5 – 2500 MHz bands, referred to as the “L band”, will be expiring between 2027 and 2030. Historically, these networks have enabled the development of mobile satellite telephone services used in regions where terrestrial networks were either subpar or unavailable. New prospects have opened up over the past several years for the development of satellite services, particularly with the deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the advent of Direct-to-Device (D2D) solutions.
Arcep opened this second public consultation to gather stakeholders’ feedback on a frequency reassignment scenario: first, an extension, requested by licence holders, of existing licences to realign their deadlines to the same expiry date, in November 2030, followed by the assignment of the entire band upon that date. The document being published today for public consultation lays out this scenario, along with initial considerations, with a view to defining the rules for the procedure to assign the L band in 2030, which will then be submitted to public consultation as well.
Stakeholders’ contributions will help inform the actions that Arcep takes to reassign this spectrum, notably with regard to the three goals of efficient management of the frequencies in question, regional digital development, and safeguarding fair and effective competition in the sector.