Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent to consider a joint bid for spectrum that would support a European direct-to-device satellite service, according to The Verge. The initiative is aimed at competing with SpaceX's Starlink while avoiding reliance on it.
Under the plan, the four mobile operators would handle ground network infrastructure, coordination and monitoring in Europe, but would not invest directly in a satellite constellation. That would come from a satellite partner that has yet to be selected, combining European governance and market access with existing satellite technology and deployment expertise.
The companies say the goal is to meet demand for universal coverage in underserved areas, strengthen the resilience of public networks and protect critical communications. The announcement follows a similar collaboration among AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the US, and comes as the EU considers reserving part of the 2 GHz band for local satellite services—a proposal SpaceX has criticized.