EU Telco Giants Plot Satellite Consortium to Rival Starlink

Europe’s largest mobile network operators are moving to secure their own satellite connectivity infrastructure to avoid dependence on American tech giants. Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone Group, and Telefonica have entered early discussions to form a consortium aimed at bidding for a share of satellite spectrum reserved by the European Union.

The group is targeting a bid for a portion of 2 gigahertz of airwaves proposed by the EU specifically for local operators. This spectrum is intended to enable direct-to-mobile (D2M) services, allowing standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without requiring specialized hardware. These airwaves are associated with the IRIS² initiative, a multi-orbit satellite array led by the European Commission and a consortium that includes SES, Eutelsat, and HispaSat.

The Push for Digital Sovereignty

This strategic alignment comes as the European Union aggressively pursues sovereign satellite capabilities. The EU's goal is to reduce the continent's reliance on U.S.-based providers, most notably SpaceX's Starlink. By allocating valuable satellite spectrum for mobile services to European companies, the EU aims to ensure that the infrastructure remains under regional control. This move is part of a broader effort to prevent a monopoly on the direct-to-device market, ensuring that European carriers can maintain their own connectivity ecosystems.

Market Implications

For the involved telcos, the move is a defensive necessity. By securing their own spectrum and leveraging the IRIS² infrastructure, European carriers can offer seamless satellite-to-mobile integration while keeping the relationship with the end-user direct. This prevents them from becoming mere resellers for a third-party American provider and allows them to dictate the terms of service and pricing within their own markets.

The Road to 2030

While the consortium is in the early stages of discussion, the underlying infrastructure is already being mapped. The IRIS² constellation is designed to consist of 348 satellites—comprising 330 in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 18 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). The European Commission is targeting full operational deployment of the array around 2030. Industry observers will now be watching to see if the four telcos can finalize their partnership and successfully secure the spectrum required to launch their competing D2M services.