Four European telecommunications companies are joining forces to secure a crucial spectrum band for satellite communications and reduce dependency on Starlink.
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone, and the Spanish Telefónica are holding exploratory talks regarding a partnership in satellite communications, Bloomberg reports. The four European telecom players reportedly intend to collaborate on establishing a European satellite network to decrease reliance on Starlink.
There is some urgency behind the talks. The four partners are targeting the 2 GHz band, which enables direct traffic between smartphones and satellites. The current licenses expire in May 2027.
Direct-to-mobile
The European Commission prefers to keep the 2 GHz band under European management as much as possible. A proposal is on the table to split the frequency band into three parts. One part would be reserved for communication, while commercial players may compete for the other two sections.
The four European telecom providers want to secure one-third of the 2 GHz spectrum at all costs. This is particularly relevant for ‘direct-to-device’ or ‘direct-to-mobile’ services supported by satellite technology. This allows for sending messages without the need for traditional cell towers, which is useful in remote areas or for addressing network outages.
To date, there is no European provider offering this service. A European network would reduce dependency on American players for this technology. One-third of the spectrum might eventually be opened up to non-European parties. It is not yet known whether Starlink will make a bid.
Conflicting interests
De Tijd notes that there are conflicting interests among the partners. Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone already work with Starlink or other American companies. Whether these overlapping commercial interests will cause complications remains to be seen.
The European Union also has a dual role here. Through IRIS2, it supports an initiative to develop a European alternative to Starlink. The first satellites are not expected to launch until 2029, although this appears to be a deadline that IRIS2 cannot afford to miss.