Ofcom published two satellite spectrum statements on 23 October 2026 that widen access for satellite broadband operators in the UK.
More spectrum for ships and aircraft
Ofcom will make more spectrum available for the uplink from Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM), in line with the ITU Radio Regulations. This extends existing authorisations in the Ku and Ka bands.
- Aeronautical ESIMs: 12.75–13.25 GHz, 27.8185–28.4545 GHz and 28.8265–29.4625 GHz when connecting to geostationary (GSO) satellites; 27.5–29.1 GHz and 29.5–30 GHz for non-geostationary (NGSO) satellites.
- Maritime ESIMs: the same three GSO ranges; 27.8185–28.4545 GHz and 28.8265–29.1 GHz for NGSO satellites.
Ofcom will update Aircraft radio, Ship radio and Earth Station Network licences and the relevant interface requirements, and will tell licensees when updated licences can be requested. It is also updating the list of protected aerodromes in the Earth Station Network licence.
Q/V band gateways in cities
The second statement makes up to 8 GHz of Q/V-band spectrum available for satellite gateways in urban "high density" areas. These cover the 6% of the UK's landmass that was not included in Ofcom's March 2026 decision, which made up to 10 GHz available elsewhere.
- GSO: uplink 47.2–50.2 GHz and 50.4–52.4 GHz; downlink 37.5–40.5 GHz.
- NGSO: uplink 47.2–50.2 GHz and 50.4–51.4 GHz; downlink 37.5–40.5 GHz.
In urban areas, downlink stops at 40.5 GHz, whereas in low-density areas it runs to 42.5 GHz. Licences will be granted first come, first served. Access to 39.5–40.5 GHz and 50.4–51.4 GHz needs extra coordination with the Ministry of Defence.
Who benefits
Responses to the consultations came from Amazon, SpaceX, Viasat, Telesat, Telenor Maritime, BT and VodafoneThree, among others. ISPreview reports that Ofcom also plans to consult next month on related licence products.
Why it matters financially
- No fees or market values were published. Gateway licences follow Ofcom's existing NGSO gateway and Permanent Earth Station licence products.
- The commercial benefit is capacity: up to 8 GHz of extra Q/V-band spectrum for urban gateways (on top of up to 10 GHz elsewhere from March 2026) and more uplink spectrum for in-flight and maritime connectivity, both growing revenue lines for satellite operators.