US Ambassador Warns EU of Retaliation Over Satellite Spectrum
US Ambassador Andrew Puzder warned the European Union of devastating retaliation if Brussels restricts satellite-to-phone spectrum access for American firms like SpaceX and Amazon.
United States Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder warned the European Union that European firms could face severe and devastating retaliation in the U.S. market if Brussels restricts access to satellite-to-phone spectrum. The threat follows a European Commission proposal to reserve specific spectrum frequencies for European operators, a move that would limit market access for American companies including Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Amazon.
SpaceX has cautioned that these restrictions could degrade connectivity in Ukraine, where the Starlink network provides critical communications for both civilian and military operations. While Puzder acknowledged the EU's right to protect sensitive government data, he argued that legislation should not be used to disadvantage U.S. competitors or make U.S. companies less competitive.
Puzder further criticized the EU's Digital Markets Act fines and the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act, suggesting that the pursuit of technological sovereignty risks deterring U.S. investment. He urged Washington and Brussels to cooperate to compete against China in quantum computing and artificial intelligence, noting that regulatory disputes undermine shared strategic interests. The European Commission maintains that its proposal diversifies suppliers while remaining open to non-EU operators.
