France and Spain want space reserved for EU firms in satellite frequencies

Brussels and EU capitals are mulling restrictions on non-EU players.

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NICOSIA — France and Spain have teamed up in a bid to reserve space for European companies in an upcoming spectrum auction for mobile satellite communications, effectively pushing out U.S. players.

The move comes as Brussels and EU capitals are mulling restrictions on non-EU players in a vast array of technologies from cloud computing to software, and grappling with the bloc’s reliance on U.S. and China-made tools.

In 2009 the European Commission issued licenses for the 2 GHz spectrum bands used for mobile communications to two U.S. companies, Viasat and EchoStar. Ahead of their expiry in 2027, the EU must decide whether to renew them or launch a fresh auction, setting new conditions on which companies can bid.