Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica versus Starlink in the European satellite spectrum fight
Imagine your phone keeping a signal in the middle of a forest, a mountain pass, or the open sea, with no tower in sight. That is the promise of direct-to-mobile satellite service, and right now one company dominates it: Elon Musk's Starlink. According to a Bloomberg report from September 7, 2026, four of Europe's biggest mobile operators are quietly exploring a way to fight back.
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica are reportedly in early talks to team up and bid together for valuable satellite airwaves in the European Union. Let's break down what is going on, why spectrum is the real battleground, and what is still uncertain.
- Four European carriers are reportedly in early talks about a joint bid. No final decision has been made.
- The prize is 2 GHz satellite spectrum, which lets ordinary phones connect to satellites directly.
- The EU wants part of that spectrum to go to a European-controlled operator, which Starlink's owner SpaceX opposes.
- Current licenses for the band are due to expire in 2027.
- Owning spectrum is not the same as owning satellites, so the plan has a big practical gap.
What is "direct-to-mobile" satellite service?
Normally your phone talks to a mobile tower on the ground. With direct-to-mobile (also called direct-to-device, or D2D), your regular smartphone connects to a satellite overhead instead, with no special hardware. It can provide texts, calls and data in places where towers do not reach.
This is the one satellite service that can reach ordinary consumers without them buying a new device, which is why everyone wants a piece of it. Starlink currently leads this market.
Why is spectrum the real fight?
Spectrum is the invisible radio band that carries your signal. It is limited, and governments sell or license it for years at a time. Think of it as land: whoever holds the license decides who can build on it.
Here is the catch for Starlink in Europe. It already offers satellite broadband across much of the continent, but it does not hold the spectrum rights needed to offer this phone service on its own inside the EU. That is exactly the leverage the European carriers are after.
What is the EU planning?
In May 2026, the European Union announced plans to steer most of the valuable satellite spectrum for mobile phone service toward European companies, while limiting how much American operators can get. The stated goals are to build up "sovereign" satellite capabilities and reduce reliance on big foreign tech companies.
As reported, the proposal for the 2 GHz band splits it roughly into three parts:
- One-third reserved for a locally owned European operator. An operator that wins the bulk of this must be majority controlled by a European business.
- One-third reserved for sovereign communication services through IRIS², Europe's own multi-orbit satellite network, built by a consortium led by SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat. It has only limited direct-to-mobile abilities.
- One-third open to international companies.
The four carriers would jointly bid for the European operator's share. Current licenses for the band run out in 2027, so the clock is ticking.
Where does Starlink stand?
SpaceX opposes the EU's idea of limiting spectrum access for international companies. At the same time, the relationship is not simple. Starlink already works with several European carriers on direct-to-device deals, and Deutsche Telekom, one of the four in these talks, sells Starlink satellite broadband to businesses and has said it plans to offer Starlink's new direct-to-device mobile service in 2028.
For a carrier, the worry is that owning the spectrum would let Starlink go around the carriers and sell to customers directly. Until now it has mostly partnered with mobile operators and used their own spectrum. This explains why the carriers want to secure airwaves themselves rather than depend on one satellite provider.
It is not just Europe: the US is doing the same
This is part of a bigger pattern. In the United States, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have announced a satellite joint venture that pools some spectrum resources and creates a platform for working with satellite operators to fill rural coverage gaps. Carriers around the world are asking the same question: how do we stay relevant if satellites can reach our customers directly?
The Vodafone puzzle
Vodafone already has its own satellite joint venture with US firm AST SpaceMobile, which also offers direct-to-mobile service. The two companies each own 50%. Under the proposal being discussed in Brussels, that structure would have to change for Vodafone to qualify for the spectrum reserved for a European player. Whether that happens will shape the whole consortium. As one analyst put it, if the venture is restructured the consortium is real; if not, it risks being three carriers and a problem.
The big gap: spectrum without satellites
Here is the part many headlines skip. Winning airwaves does not give you a single satellite. Reserving spectrum for a European operator does not create a European satellite fleet. A four-carrier group could end up holding valuable spectrum before it has anything to broadcast with.
The likeliest short-term outcome, according to one analysis, is that a European consortium would hold the spectrum and lease capacity from an existing, probably American, satellite constellation until a European one exists. That would be an awkward irony for a plan built around sovereignty.
What it could mean for you
- Coverage: fewer dead zones for calls and texts, especially in rural areas, at sea and in disasters.
- Choice: a European option alongside Starlink could mean more competition and, possibly, better prices.
- Timing: don't expect it tomorrow. The talks are early, the auction rules are still being debated, and the satellites still have to be arranged.
My take: smart move, hard road
The carriers' logic is sound: spectrum is scarce, and once it is gone it is gone for years. But rules on paper don't build satellites, and Europe's sovereignty goals could collide with the carriers' existing ties to US satellite firms. The next things to watch are whether the four carriers confirm a deal, how the EU finalizes its auction rules, and what happens to Vodafone's AST SpaceMobile structure.
Frequently asked questions
Have the carriers officially formed a consortium?
Not according to the reports available. Bloomberg described early talks and said no final decisions had been made, and the companies either declined to comment or did not respond at the time.
Which companies are involved?
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica.
Can Starlink offer phone service in the EU?
It already provides satellite broadband across much of Europe and works with carriers on direct-to-device services, but it does not hold the spectrum rights to offer this service independently in the EU.
What is IRIS²?
It is the EU's own satellite constellation project, designed as Europe's answer to Starlink. It is being built by a consortium led by SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat and is mainly focused on broadband and secure communications.
When will European direct-to-mobile service start?
No date is set. The existing spectrum licenses expire in 2027, and the new rules and auction still have to be finalized.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not investment or legal advice. It is based on reports from Bloomberg, Reuters and other outlets published in September 2026, which cited unnamed sources. Details may change, and this post will be updated as official announcements are made.
Last updated: October 19, 2026
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