Four of Europe’s leading telecommunications groups — Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone — are exploring a joint bid for spectrum frequencies to enable direct satellite-to-mobile connectivity (Direct-to-Device – D2D).
A Strategic Alliance for Spectrum
The four operators have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) regarding potential participation in the upcoming European spectrum allocation process. This move follows the European Commission's regulatory proposal, presented on May 27, 2026, for the selection and licensing of Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) providers, as existing rights for the 2 GHz band are set to expire in May 2027.
Under the proposed framework, the telecom groups will develop ground infrastructure across Europe and manage critical coordination and monitoring functions. However, they do not plan to invest directly in a satellite constellation; instead, this segment will be handled by a specialized partner yet to be selected.
Objectives and Operating Model
The initiative aims to address several key priorities:
- Extending connectivity to remote areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable.
- Maintaining communication links during terrestrial infrastructure outages.
- Supporting the development of a European satellite constellation to bolster strategic autonomy.
The companies are considering an "open access" model, ensuring non-discriminatory availability for all mobile network operators to offer satellite services to their subscribers. While a commercial launch timeline has not been disclosed, the groups believe this collaboration will mitigate market fragmentation and accelerate the deployment of new services.
