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Global Satellite Operators Association

GSOA

GSOA is the only global non-profit association of the entire satellite ecosystem that brings members together and serves as the premier platform for worldwide collaboration.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with András Gyürk (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Leonardo S.p.A. and

13 Nov 2025 · Parliamentary Hearing on the European Space Act

Meeting with Christophe Grudler (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

11 Nov 2025 · Politique spatiale européenne

Meeting with András Gyürk (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Nov 2025 · EU Space Act

Meeting with Giorgio Gori (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Nov 2025 · Space Act

Response to EU Space Law: Union law for safe, secure and sustainable space activities

5 Nov 2025

GSOA is the global non-profit association of the entire satellite ecosystem that brings members together and serves as the premier platform for worldwide collaboration. As the worlds CEO-driven satellite association, GSOA takes the lead in addressing global challenges, seizing opportunities, and providing a unified voice for the satellite industry. GSOA is widely recognized as the representative body for satellite operators by international, regional, and national entities, including regulators, policymakers, and standard-setting organizations. GSOA is committed to engage with regulators on the timely development and implementation of appropriate regulations that would enable the world to maximize the use of access to, and benefits from space resources and promote the sustainable use of space, including the continued availability of spectrum and orbital resources. GSOA believes that such regulations should: - Be based on peer-reviewed scientific analyses; - Balance risk and reward, with the aim of achieving certain policy goals; - Be consistent globally; - Encourage innovative solutions; and - Be the result of close cooperation between all space actors. GSOA welcomes the Commissions initiative to establish a coherent and effective regulatory framework for space activities and space services in the European Union. The comments outlined below are intended to support the development of clear, proportionate, and practical rules that enhance safety, resilience, sustainability and support innovation.
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Response to Digital Networks Act

11 Jul 2025

GSOA welcomes the European Commissions initiative to shape a Digital Networks Act (DNA) that ensures Europes digital infrastructure is fit for the future. Satellite communications play a strategic and often irreplaceable role in Europes connectivity landscape, providing essential services in hard-to-reach regions, supporting emergency response, providing broadband services to ships and planes, and contributing to secure, resilient communications systems. In this context, the DNA is a pivotal opportunity to promote a technology-inclusive framework that fully recognises the unique contributions of satellite operators and takes a cohesive and holistic approach to technology, avoiding regulatory duplication and ensuring simplification. The satellite industry stands ready to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure connectivity that together with terrestrial networks and other technologies accelerates Europes digital transition. Europes digital ambitions demand a cohesive, forward-looking policy that harnesses the full range of technologies, values their unique strengths, and drives innovation. Achieving comprehensive territorial coverage, resilience, sustainability, and scalability are essential, not only for Europes competitiveness, but also for inclusiveness across all regions of Europe. Satellite communications are a cornerstone of this two-pronged objective. The Digital Networks Act presents a vital opportunity to renew the EUs leadership in digital policy, not by imposing a one-size-fits-all approach, but by embracing the diversity of the telecom ecosystem through a modernised policy that is adapted to todays technology realities. Please find GSOA contribution attached.
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Meeting with Miguel Gonzalez-Sancho (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

27 Jan 2025 · Role of satellite technology in advanced connectivity (for GSOA

Meeting with Gerasimos Sofianatos (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

27 Jan 2025 · Presentation of GSOA and their agenda priorities with an exchange of views on satellite issues.

Response to How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?

29 Jun 2024

GSOA welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on theWhite Paper How to master Europes digital infrastructure needs? GSOA applauds the ECs high ambitions of deploying state-of-the-art connectivity in Europe. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that we avoid deepening the digital divide. The EUs connectivity goals have to align with the realities of consumer demand, based on a technology neutral approach, whereby all technologies, stand-alone or in a mix, are duly considered to deliver meaningful connectivity to all Europe. Satellites have the potential and reach to provide this level of connectivity in all points of the EU territory. The performance levels of space & ground technologies will also be made scalable over the following years, with further innovation and integration of newly advanced satellite solutions. In developing the future connectivity for the European citizens it is critical to foster collaboration and retain the level of transparency and the role of industry in providing technical as well as regulatory inputs and expertise that today prevail in European spectrum policies. In the attached document, GSOA members respond to the different scenarios in detail.
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Response to Development of an EU approach on Space Traffic Management (STM)

18 Nov 2021

ESOA supports the EU’s commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of this critical natural resource. ESOA’s recent call for action is attached: Space Sustainability: The time to act is now. The EC has an important opportunity to take action to promote harmonization of ‘fit for purpose’ regulatory regimes for ‘space traffic management’ (STM) with other leading space faring nations, while supporting the continued growth & competitiveness of the European space industry. ESOA recommends that industry & government promptly work together to develop a flexible regulatory framework for STM based on the following: Space Debris Mitigation - Incorporate aggregate system-wide collision probability limits on NGSO systems that minimize the intentional & unintentional creation of orbital debris; - Require space operators to i) demonstrate & maintain over time effective orbital tolerances in which they will operate to ensure adequate access to orbits by multiple entities ii) maintain & be able to maneuver to avoid collisions during the operational life of the space object while in orbit above a reasonable altitude iii) require operators to choose designs/make changes that lessen the impact on other operators, so reducing collision risk; - Require NGSO satellites to be retrievable/fully demisable & re-orbited responsibly into the atmosphere or an appropriate disposal orbit before predicted loss of maneuverability; - Require GSO satellites to be moved to a post-mission disposal orbit in accordance with international standards; - Require frequent health checks to ensure NGSO satellites are working properly and, if not, require operators to address the cause of the problem before launching additional new/replacement satellites that could endanger the orbital environment; - Prohibit the intentional destruction of spacecraft & other harmful activities that may significantly increase debris & collision risks to other spacecraft; - Reduce the post mission disposal timeframe for LEO constellations satellites from the current 25 years. - Improve the effectiveness of enforcement of current regulations for end-of-life satellite disposal (graveyard or disposal orbit for GEO/MEO & natural decay for LEO). Space Situational Awareness - Operators to i) establish 24/7 points of contact & share contact information as needed to coordinate collision avoidance activities ii) be encouraged to construct GSO & NGSO satellites in a way that facilitates active and/or passive tracking, as well as having knowledge & control of their trajectories iii) demonstrate they have access to an up-to-date space object catalogue & that they have an efficient service in place for collision warning. - Governments should i) ensure all missions are registered under the UN Registration Convention, ii) support R&D efforts nationally & internationally to improve space situational awareness iii) support/setup an international governmental organization(s) to provide effective, free-of-charge, essential, SSA services that allow effective implementation/monitoring of regulations iv) support R&D efforts to improve SSA, including the development of an SST catalogue & encouraging feedback from industry on technological advancement. - EU SST should provide effective, free-of-charge, essential, SST services & collaborate with other SST systems to ensure complete & accurate space objects catalogues. Remediation & Disposal Satellite operators are encouraged to implement remediation & disposal techniques for future NGSO & GSO systems taking account of commercial, technical, regulatory, & space orbital environmental safeguarding objectives. Some satellite operators are already building these functions into their satellite end-of-life plans. Conclusion ESOA urges the EC to work with industry to define the necessary steps & take concrete actions that will result in a sustainable space environment as discussed herein & in the Call to Action.
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Response to EU Space-based secure connectivity

23 Sept 2021

ESOA is pleased to offer the following thoughts on the EC’s Inception Impact Assessment concerning the ESSCS and thanks the European Commission for consulting on this important topic:  ESOA represents 22 satellite operators with investments in multiple systems across all orbits. Satellite operators by far hold the most experience in successfully commercialising satellite systems for connectivity worldwide. The dynamic commercial satcoms market is testimony to the fact that the systems they operate both compete with and complement each other and terrestrial communications networks in terms of the markets they address.  The European Commission has spent significant public funds over the last decade on terrestrial infrastructure in the hope of ensuring inclusion in the digital era without success. Attention to satellite communications solutions is a long-awaited step which should speed up connectivity for the last few percent (ca. 5 million households) of EU citizens who remain unconnected and extend the reach of 5G services, enabling key verticals and increasing the uptime of terrestrial networks in doing so.  In its recent publication on Path to Digital Decade 2030, the EC calls for consistency across policy initiatives (as well as ‘excellent and secure connectivity’ for all EU citizens), however fails to reference the ESSCS despite its inclusion in the Commission’s Action Plan on Synergies between civil, defence and space industries and despite the relevance of satellite communications to Digital Decade objectives. A silo approach that continues to treat telecommunications within digital policy and separately, satellite communications within space policy undermines the role of satellite in the digital ecosystem, and therefore will not secure maximum benefit from satellite communications technology for Europe. Concerning the ESSCS:  The European space industry has state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities however non-European players have benefited from targeted industrial policy & funding frameworks that have been in place for years, especially for defence and broadband penetration, and this has directly promoted innovation in satellite communications outside the European Union. The ESSCS initiative is therefore late in putting Europe on the next generation new-space map. Any attempt to respond or compete will require a step-change in how the Commission implements space programs: time is of the essence.  Increasing geopolitical concerns around security also speak in favour of driving more technology advancement in the field of satellite communications within the EU.  Connectivity is different from earth observation or navigation. The risk associated with entering an established, competitive market, implies an obligation on the Commission to ensure the best chances of success, provide a demonstrable return on taxpayers' money, and ensure minimum risk exposure. To succeed, any initiative concerning satellite communications should be implemented in a way that leverages the scale, knowledge, and customer base of satellite operators as well as their ability to react quickly in a competitive marketplace.
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Response to Europe’s digital decade: 2030 digital targets

4 Mar 2021

ESOA welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Communication’s Roadmap concerning 2030 digital targets for Europe’s digital decade and would like to share the following initial considerations: Stakeholder Engagement: If the EU digital targets are to be subject to the monitoring of their achievement based on performance indicators, the Commission should define them based on proper consultation and engagement with stakeholders. This will best ensure that the targets are realistic and set the stage for all technologies to contribute to meaningful connectivity across the Union, in support of European connectivity goals. Meaningful Connectivity: The notion of “meaningful connectivity” should be understood as transformational in terms of impacting the lives of EU citizens and delivering a step change from the level of connectivity they had before. Meaningful connectivity applies equally to bringing households online for the first time; enhancing connectivity for those who already have it and enabling 5G services & beyond for a majority of citizens. It is central to the concept of ‘digital leadership and citizenship based on fundamental rights and values’ that the EU wishes to foster. Consistency: The Commission should ensure consistency in the adoption and implementation of different policy initiatives that impact achievement of the Union’s digital targets, from the 5GAP and RSPP to the Broadband Guidelines for State Aid, regional policy as well as agricultural and rural development policy. Initiatives should also be in line with the Commission’s narrative: for example, if 5G is intended as a Network of Networks based on all technologies, investment rules should not follow a binary approach based on definitions that exclude certain technologies. The EU must also guarantee that sufficient radio spectrum is available to all technologies that contribute to the 5G ecosystem. User-centric: The user should take centre stage in the setting of digital targets, implying there should be a strong focus on people’s needs and expectations in terms of everyday digital services, whether for work or leisure. While it is difficult to define the needs, expectations, applications and services that will be mainstream in 2030, the Commission should be mindful to avoid making assumptions that lead to picking winning technologies or defining criteria that are associated with any particular one. One key consideration for example is that a prescriptive approach taken today could result in exacerbating the digital divide as one part of the population benefits from the latest connectivity solutions while the rest remain with obsolete or no connectivity.
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Meeting with Timo Pesonen (Director-General Defence Industry and Space)

29 Oct 2020 · Courtesy call to present ESOA.

Meeting with Alina-Stefania Ujupan (Cabinet of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel)

20 Oct 2017 · Satellite operators