Elon Musk's Starlink has had its license revoked to use two frequency bands for satellite internet in France.
The relationship between Starlink and France has been a rocky one, with only one ground station left in France
Why did Starlink get their license revoked?
The decision was made after two associations: Agir pour l'environnement and PRIARTEM asked that Starlinks usage of the spectrum be annuled. The associations were granted this decision on the ground that it was granted without the proper public consultation.
Translated from French the decision reads as follows:
The contested decision of ARCEP, which aims to authorize the company Starlink Internet Services Limited... is likely to have a significant impact on the market for the provision of broadband internet access and to affect the interests of end users. Therefore, by taking this decision without having first consulted the public, ARCEP disregarded the provisions of V of Article L. 32-1 of the Post and Electronic Communications Code.
ARCEP is a bit like Ofcom, the independent body of telecoms in France.
France has it's own rival to Starlink which is Parisian "Eutelsat" which is involved with Orange which plans to cover the entire French territory with high speed satellite broadband, giving even the most rural communities access to high speed broadband.
Starlink has not commented on this development as of yet.
