Four of Europe’s biggest telecom operators — Deutsche Telekom of Germany, France’s Orange, Spain’s Telefónica and Vodafone of the UK — have signed a letter of intent to apply jointly for the radio spectrum needed to run a European satellite network that talks directly to ordinary mobile phones. The letter of intent was published by Deutsche Telekom in its media information newsroom and reported on 19 October 2026 by The Tech Buzz and the Ukrainian tech outlet dev.ua, both of which frame it as an attempt to build an alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink.
Which satellite operator would actually launch and fly the constellation has not been settled: the carriers say a partner is still being selected and have named no candidate. The two reports also differ in tone — dev.ua describes a decision to create a Starlink alternative, while The Tech Buzz says the carriers are “exploring” a joint spectrum bid.
Why it matters
Direct-to-device means satellite signals beamed straight to standard smartphones, without a dish. The Tech Buzz argues that whoever controls that infrastructure gains leverage over the whole mobile ecosystem, and that the European carriers decided surrendering their home market without a fight was not an option. dev.ua notes that European governments and the telecom market have long been looking for ways to reduce reliance on Starlink.
In the joint statement published by Deutsche Telekom, the operators said the initiative is meant to meet consumer demand for universal coverage in underserved areas, “strengthen the resilience of public networks” and “protect critical communication channels”, as well as support the build-out of Europe’s own satellite industry. dev.ua reports the partners expect that combining European regulation, market access and a satellite partner’s technology will produce a communications system resilient to geopolitical and infrastructure risks.
A split job: towers here, satellites there
The structure keeps the carriers out of the capital-intensive space business, with no direct investment in building the constellation. The Tech Buzz says the four telecoms would manage terrestrial infrastructure — their existing cell towers, spectrum licences and customer relationships — while an outside partner deploys and operates the orbital fleet, an arrangement it argues also leaves them free to negotiate with several possible satellite providers rather than locking in early. Deutsche Telekom has already been pressing SpaceX publicly over the scale of its ground network.
Spectrum is the first battleground
dev.ua reports that the European Union is considering reserving part of the 2 GHz frequency band specifically for local satellite operators, and that SpaceX has criticised the idea, saying such a restriction could hurt the quality of Starlink services, in particular in Ukraine. That plan has fed the transatlantic row already building over the 2 GHz band.
The Tech Buzz adds that European regulators have been weighing how to allocate satellite frequencies, with the US Federal Communications Commission’s recent moves toward a 25 MHz auction setting a precedent Brussels is watching. A unified bid from four large carriers, it says, carries political weight that could shape how European spectrum authorities structure their auctions.
How far ahead SpaceX is
By The Tech Buzz’s count, SpaceX has already launched more than 6,000 Starlink satellites, has demonstrated working direct-to-phone connectivity with T-Mobile in the United States, and keeps launching at a pace of roughly 100 satellites a month. The outlet attributes SpaceX’s cost advantage to vertical integration — building rockets, satellites and ground equipment in-house — which it says traditional aerospace contractors cannot match.
The Tech Buzz also casts the European alliance as a defensive move by incumbents, writing that SpaceX’s US wireless network plans triggered a telecom stock rout weeks ago in which Verizon suffered its worst trading day since 2002. That turbulence is visible in the recent selloff in telecom and SpaceX-exposed stocks.
What could go wrong
The Tech Buzz lists the obstacles the consortium faces: navigating different spectrum rules and national security concerns in each European country, and getting four large carriers to agree on technology standards, investment timelines and revenue sharing. The question it poses is not whether Europe can build such a network, since the technology exists, but whether a consortium of legacy operators can execute quickly enough to matter.
Neither report gives a timeline, a budget, a launch date or any pricing for the proposed European service, and neither mentions coverage outside Europe. Nothing in the letter of intent changes Starlink availability or pricing in Europe today — satellite internet buyers there still order a Starlink kit and pay SpaceX’s monthly rates, with no rival direct-to-device service on sale. Starlink News will follow the spectrum filings and the choice of satellite partner as they are announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which satellite companies could end up supplying the constellation?
The carriers have not disclosed a name. The Tech Buzz points to Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation, which it says recently hit 1,000 satellites in its production pipeline, and to the European operators Eutelsat and SES, which it says have direct-to-device ambitions but lack SpaceX’s manufacturing scale.
Have carriers elsewhere tried the same thing?
Yes. According to dev.ua, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the United States previously agreed to pool spectrum in order to cover rural “dead zones”, a trend dev.ua describes as similar to the European move.
Does the letter of intent mean the European network is approved?
No. The Tech Buzz calls the letter of intent the opening move and says the carriers still have to finalise their satellite partnership, submit formal spectrum bids, secure regulatory approvals and then actually deploy a working network.
How much financial firepower does SpaceX have behind its satellite push?
The Tech Buzz reports that SpaceX recently secured $40 billion in financing for a large Nvidia GPU purchase. It cites that deal as evidence of SpaceX’s access to capital and its willingness to invest at scale against slower-moving rivals.
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