On May 7, 2026, the UK Spectrum Policy Forum (UK SPF), hosted by techUK, announced the commissioning of Real Wireless to conduct a comprehensive study on the regulatory frameworks required for lunar communications. The independent consultancy will develop a roadmap for radio spectrum management to support the accelerating pace of international missions to the lunar surface.
Establishing the Lunar Regulatory Landscape
The study arrives as international space agencies and private commercial operators transition from short-term exploration to sustained lunar presence. This shift necessitates robust communications relays, surface-to-surface networks, and navigation infrastructure, all of which rely on interference-free spectrum access.
Real Wireless is tasked with mapping future demand across multiple use cases, identifying suitable frequency bands, and proposing frameworks that ensure interoperability between Earth-based ground stations, orbital assets, and surface infrastructure. A critical component of the research will involve addressing potential coordination challenges with existing Earth-based services, such as radio astronomy and Earth Exploration-Satellite Services (EESS).
Strategic Alignment with Global Standards
The findings are intended to solidify the UK’s position in international governance discussions, specifically providing a foundation for UK contributions to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27).
The initiative complements existing programs such as the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Moonlight program, which aims to create a satellite constellation for lunar telecommunications and navigation services. By establishing these frameworks now, the UK SPF seeks to prevent “spectrum squatting” and ensure a scalable environment for future commercial lunar operations.
“The Moon is no longer just a distant exploration target; it has the potential to be a practical operating environment for communications and navigation systems in the very near future,” said Dr. Abhaya Sumanasena, Head of Policy and Regulation at Real Wireless. “Establishing coherent, internationally aligned spectrum frameworks now is essential if we are to enable safe, scalable and commercially viable lunar operations.”
Timeline to July 2026
The research project is scheduled to span approximately three months. Real Wireless expects to deliver a final report detailing specific recommendations for spectrum allocation and regulatory reform by the UK SPF Plenary in July 2026.
