Europe’s top carriers weigh joint satellite bid to rival Starlink

Deutsche Telekom, Orange ↘ 1.74%, Vodafone ↘ 2.32%, and Telefonica are in early talks to form a consortium that would jointly bid for satellite spectrum and offer direct-to-mobile services across Europe, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.bloomberg

The four carriers — among the continent's largest mobile operators — would bid together for a share of 2 gigahertz of airwaves that the European Union has proposed reserving for a local operator, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. No final decisions on the consortium or plans to bid have been made.channelnewsasia+1

A European Answer to Starlink

If realized, the initiative would create a European competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service and align with the EU's broader push to develop sovereign satellite communication capabilities. The bloc has been exploring ways to strengthen its communications infrastructure, including a model in which satellite operators work with terrestrial mobile networks to deliver connectivity directly to consumer devices.businessupturn+1

The talks come as direct-to-device satellite technology gains momentum across Europe. Telefonica announced earlier this year that it was working with Satellite Connect Europe, a Luxembourg-based company, to explore satellite services for consumers, businesses, and public services in Spain and Germany. Orange has partnered with AST SpaceMobile ↗ 7.05% and Satellite Connect Europe on demonstrations involving voice, SMS, and data connectivity in Romania.businessupturn

Companies Stay Quiet

Vodafone and Orange declined to comment on the Bloomberg report, while Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The discussions remain preliminary, and the companies would still need to resolve technical, regulatory, and commercial questions before any formal bid or large-scale deployment could proceed.channelnewsasia+2

The proposed consortium underscores a growing tension in European telecommunications: the desire to expand mobile coverage through satellite technology while reducing dependence on non-European providers. Whether the four operators can align their interests into a joint bid remains an open question, but the early talks signal that Europe's largest carriers see satellite-to-mobile connectivity as a strategic priority they would rather pursue together than separately.