ROME, March 6 (Reuters) - Italy's parliament on Thursday

rejected opposition amendments trying to prevent the government

from acquiring satellite services from companies outside the EU,

which a representative from Starlink had denounced as

'anti-Musk' moves.

The draft bill, which needs approval from both houses of

parliament, will make it possible to transmit Italian

communications only through satellites owned by operators

belonging to the EU or to the Atlantic Alliance (NATO).

Lawmakers from the main centre-left opposition Democratic

Party (PD) had proposed further limitations as the government

moves to ensure diplomats and officials have access to secure

satellite communications while operating in risky areas.

The PD sought to impose that satellites be handled by

subjects based outside the EU only if it was impossible to do

otherwise, while making sure Italy had "exclusive ownership and

control of the encryption and the software and hardware

components used by the service provider."

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's ruling parties have opposed

both proposals.

U.S. company Starlink, part of Elon Musk's SpaceX business,

is among the top contenders for a government contract for such

services, but the opposition has questioned the wisdom of

working with a company owned by the tech billionaire and ally of

U.S. President Donald Trump.

Andrea Stroppa, a representative for Musk in Italy, said

last month the PD was waging an "anti-Musk crusade" and warned

Starlink was not "a toy for the politicians."

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Franco-British satellite

operator Eutelsat is also among companies in talks with

the Italian government over secure communications.

"We demand guarantees for the use of Italians' public

money," said Andrea Casu, the PD lawmaker who proposed the

amendments.