Satellite communication service 'Starlink' is stripped of communication license in France

by Steve Jurvetson

SpaceX, a private space company whose CEO is Elon Musk, is developing an Internet communication service ' Starlink ' using artificial satellites. Starlink has the feature that you can use the Internet anywhere in the world just by installing an antenna, which is useful for securing the Internet communication environment in Ukraine. Such Starlink's communication license in France has been revoked by the French Conseil d'Etat.

Arcep launches a public consultation on the authorization to use frequencies requested by Starlink
(PDF file) https://en.arcep.fr/fileadmin/cru-1648459125/user_upload/18-22-english-version.pdf

French court revokes SpaceX's Starlink internet license, citing monopolization concerns | Space
https://www.space.com/starlink-french-court-revokes-license-monopolization

Starlink is a service that makes it possible to use the Internet at any point on the earth using thousands of artificial satellites that orbit in satellite orbit. To use Starlink, you only need to install a dedicated receiver, and it is attracting a lot of attention because you can use the Internet even in areas with poor infrastructure, and Starlink is a communication environment even in Ukraine , which is undergoing a military invasion by Russia. It is used to secure.

On the other hand, it has been pointed out that Starlink has problems such as ' space debris increases' and 'the artificial satellites are too bright, which hinders astronomical observation' due to the large number of artificial satellites used.

Concerns that 'SpaceX satellites will be too bright to destroy space research' --GIGAZINE

Despite being pointed out the above problems, Starlink has started offering the service in beta in the United States and Europe, and beta testing has started in May 2021 in France as well. However, on April 5, 2022, the French Conseil d'Eau revoked SpaceX's radio communications license, stating that 'SpaceX's strategy could disrupt Starlink's economic balance in the market.' He also points out that Arcep , who is in charge of radio communication regulations in France, did not fully hear outside opinions when licensing SpaceX.

In response to the State Council's decision, Arcep said, 'Starlink's business will not have a significant impact on the market and will not affect end users.' 'The frequency bands used by Starlink include other satellite communications services. It's available, 'he said, arguing that SpaceX's Starlink is not in a monopoly. In addition, Arcep claims that other satellite communications services were used by tens of thousands of people in France even before SpaceX was licensed.

The State Council is asking Arcep to review SpaceX's application by May 9, 2022. A source familiar with the radio communications license told Space, a space-related media, 'Perhaps Arcep will relicense SpaceX, but additional conditions may apply.'