Poland's SAFE program seeks satellite export boost as EU‑US spectrum clash escalates

Poland’s SAFE programme aims to give the country new satellite capabilities and open European markets to Polish space firms. The government plans a geostationary telecom satellite with French partners and additional SAR radar satellites from the Finnish‑Polish company ICEYE, while Greece has already secured a purchase of Polish‑built satellite systems. Officials said the initiative will allow the Polish defence and space industry to export for the first time.

At the same time, the European Union has drafted a proposal to reserve much of the 2 GHz spectrum for European satellite operators, a move that could limit access for U.S. firms such as SpaceX. SpaceX warned that the rules might disrupt services like Starlink, which is critical for civilian and military communications in war‑torn Ukraine, and the U.S. FCC signalled possible retaliation. The regulatory dispute adds uncertainty to the market that Poland hopes to enter.