Private companies are staking a significant claim to the Moon’s radio spectrum, aiming to lay the groundwork for the future lunar economy. As The Financial Times reports, over 50 applications have been filed with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 2010 for the use of lunar spectrum. This invisible resource, crucial for wireless communications, is expected to play a key role in supporting lunar missions and activities, ranging from satellite operations to surface landings.
Notably, last year marked the first time that the number of commercial filings for lunar spectrum surpassed those from space agencies and governments. This shift, detailed by The Financial Times, is indicative of the private sector’s growing influence in space exploration. Private companies, such as Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace, and Astrobotic, are increasingly positioning themselves to lead the charge in establishing infrastructure that will support lunar activities.
Katherine Gizinski, CEO of spectrum consultancy River Advisers, which has represented private companies in filing for lunar spectrum, noted that this moment would likely be seen as an “important inflection point.” As The Financial Times highlights, this growth in private filings signals an expanding interest in the “cislunar economy” — the area between Earth and the Moon. These filings cover satellite systems already in use, as well as planned systems that will operate in the future.
Intuitive Machines, which in 2024 became the first private company to land on the Moon, is one of the leading players. The company’s co-founder, Tim Crain, explained that the near-term value derived from the Moon will primarily be in the form of data, underscoring the importance of managing and growing the lunar spectrum for commercial ventures. The Financial Times also reported that the company secured a contract with NASA worth up to $4.8 billion to develop a satellite constellation that will relay data between the Moon and Earth.
The rapid expansion of commercial lunar filings is driven by growing interest in a variety of sectors, including resource exploration, biomedical research, and manufacturing. As The Financial Times notes, the forecast for the next decade includes approximately 450 lunar missions, with nearly half expected to be led by private companies. These missions, expected to generate about $151 billion in revenue, will see a significant portion of their contracts come from government entities, particularly NASA.
The increase in private sector involvement in lunar exploration and spectrum management has raised the need for updated regulations. As The Financial Times points out, the next World Radio Conference (WRC) in 2027 is expected to dedicate a significant portion of its agenda to space-related issues, including the growing demand for lunar spectrum. The ITU has indicated that updates to the Radio Regulations will be necessary to accommodate the surge in lunar activities, which may lead to more detailed rules governing the use of the Moon’s airwaves.
As private companies continue to expand their presence in space, The Financial Times highlights that the Moon’s radio spectrum is poised to become an essential resource for the next phase of lunar exploration. The growing commercial interest is a strong indicator that the cislunar economy is on the verge of significant development, and the next few years could see substantial changes to the regulatory landscape for space communications.
