Sustainable spectrum policy dossier updated for 2026

With over 10,000 satellites in orbit and megaconstellations such as Starlink growing fast, figuring out what to do with satellites once they stop working has become a major challenge.

The work being done to meet that challenge is the subject of a new research note added to our Sustainable Spectrum Policy dossier, which has now been updated for 2026.

It includes the introduction of an ESA standard for space exploration, the ESA Zero Debris Charter, which targets net-zero debris by 2030 through collision avoidance.

Elsewhere, The Asia‑Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF)’s “Nagoya Vision” explicitly emphasises the sustainable use of space and responsible practices.

The IADC, an international governmental forum for the worldwide coordination of activities related to the issues of man-made and natural debris in space, has published guidelines that aim to encourage debris reduction in space. 

The other research notes in the dossier have also been updated for 2026, focusing on recent developments like the publication in January of an EU Code of Conduct for the sustainability of telecommunications networks.

The Code aims to help the EU reach its climate targets and includes eight indicators used to consider environmental aspects of sustainability for telecommunications networks.

The new research note is available to Spectrum Research Service subscribers here.

• Sustainability in space
• Telecoms industry energy consumption
• Regulatory action for sustainable telecoms
• Can telecoms ever be sustainable?
• Sustainable 6G