Disputes in Space: Spectrum wars and frequency interference disputes

In this episode of Disputes in Space, Arthur Sauzay is joined by A&O Shearman partner Andrew Denny and senior associate Piermaurizio Tafuni to discuss why spectrum interference is emerging as a critical disputes risk in the space sector. 

Space isn’t only crowded with satellites—it’s also crowded across the radio frequencies that they depend on. As mega constellations grow, satellites deliver direct to device services, and multiple operators compete for access to key bands; the demand for usable spectrum is intensifying.  

Although an international framework governing spectrum allocation does exist, it was built for a very different era—one in which satellites were launched by States, operated in low numbers, and rarely competed for the same frequencies. Today, private operators face a system where coordination depends heavily on national administrations and enforcement options are uncertain. As commercial dependence on uninterrupted connectivity grows, harmful interference is set to become one of the most strategically significant—and litigated—issues in the space sector. 

The episode discusses:

• The rising risk of harmful interference from overlapping constellations and D2D services
• How national interests and geopolitical pressures shape outcomes in cross border interference disputes
• How the ITU’s current allocation system works—and why it struggles under modern commercial pressures
• The limits of existing coordination and enforcement mechanisms
• Why operators increasingly rely on bilateral coordination agreements and arbitration to safeguard their rights 

This episode explains where interference disputes are most likely to develop and the contractual, technical and procedural tools needed to manage them. 

Disputes in Space is a podcast series from A&O Shearman’s Future Disputes group, exploring the disputes risks emerging from the rapid commercialization of space. Featuring A&O Shearman lawyers and external experts, the series examines collisions, spectrum interference, and space mining—and the legal, regulatory, and evidentiary challenges shaping the future space economy