Four of Europe’s largest telecom operators have decided to join forces to create an alternative to Starlink satellite communications. Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent to jointly apply for spectrum. They aim to launch a European satellite network with direct-to-device technology.
Four of Europe’s largest telecom operators have decided to join forces to create an alternative to Starlink satellite communications. Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent to jointly apply for spectrum. They aim to launch a European satellite network with direct-to-device technology.
According to The Verge, the operators will take on the deployment and maintenance of the ground infrastructure, as well as the coordination of the network in Europe. At the same time, the operators themselves will not plan to directly invest in the creation of a satellite constellation. The partners plan to involve a separate satellite company, the selection of which is still underway, to launch the devices into orbit and operate them.
"The joint initiative has a clear goal: to meet consumer demand for universal coverage in underserved areas, strengthen the resilience of public networks, protect critical communication channels, and support the development of the European satellite group," the telecom operators said in a joint statement.
The project participants expect that this combination of European regulation, market access, and the technological capabilities of a satellite partner will allow for the creation of a reliable communications system that is resilient to possible geopolitical and infrastructure risks.
European countries and the telecom market have long been looking for ways to reduce their reliance on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system. Similar trends are being observed in the United States, where AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon previously agreed to pool spectrum to cover rural "dead zones".
In addition, the European Union is considering reserving part of the 2 GHz frequency band specifically for local satellite operators. This initiative has already been criticized by SpaceX, stating that such a frequency restriction could negatively affect the quality of Starlink services, in particular in Ukraine .
