A new public consultation by ARCEP on Mobile Satellite Services

The French Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications (“ARCEP”) has recently launched a public consultation to gather stakeholders’ views on frequency requirements in the L-band for the operation of mobile satellite services. This initiative aims to prepare the framework and conditions for the future reassignment of these frequencies.

This consultation comes in a context of significant technological and industrial developments in the field of mobile satellite services. ARCEP seeks to anticipate the impacts of these innovations on the mobile connectivity market in France.

All interested stakeholders are invited to submit their contributions before 21 November 2025, in particular by responding to the 17 questions raised by ARCEP.

Background and prospects

Historically, satellite networks have enabled the development of telephony and Internet access services in areas where terrestrial networks were insufficient or non-existent. Today, the L-band (1518–1559 MHz, 1610–1660.5 MHz, 1670–1675 MHz, and 2483.5–2500 MHz) is used by four satellite operators to provide satellite telephony and Internet access services. However, their current authorisations will expire between 2027 and 2030, paving the way for potential reassignment.

Meanwhile, new opportunities are emerging. The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the development of Direct-to-Device services (which allow mobile devices to connect directly to satellites without a dedicated antenna or special satellite phone) are opening the door to innovative use cases and broader satellite mobile services.

Objectives of the consultation

ARCEP has launched this consultation without having made any final decisions regarding the reassignment of the L-band or the associated technical conditions. It pursues two main objectives:

• To assess the current legal framework and uses of the L-band by collecting feedback from all relevant stakeholders.
• To anticipate future developments in mobile satellite services.

The consultation therefore invites stakeholders to share their analyses and data on the following topics:

• Current use of the L-band: existing services (voice, data, IoT, emergency, maritime/aeronautical), spectrum usage patterns, and coverage levels.
• Development of new mobile satellite services: emergence of new services (broadband, IoT applications, Direct-to-Device), demand forecasts, and future commercial offers.
• Network architecture of satellite systems: constellation types (GSO/NGSO), ground infrastructure (gateways, stations), and interoperability with existing mobile networks.
• Technical and regulatory conditions: coexistence with other spectrum users, interference prevention, and consideration of sustainability and environmental impacts.

The document is open for public consultation until 21 November 2025 and is available via this link.