Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent regarding a possible joint bid for radio spectrum to provide satellite connectivity directly to smartphones in Europe. The operators see the project as a potential alternative to services such as Starlink, the Financial Times reports.
The initiative concerns direct-to-device technology, which enables direct communication between satellites and smartphones. It предусматривает the creation of ground infrastructure, including base stations for satellite communications.
At the same time, the companies do not plan to create their own satellite constellation. They want to involve an existing satellite provider, but have not yet selected a partner.
Frequencies in the 2 GHz band
In May 2026, the European Commission proposed reserving part of the 2 GHz frequency band for European companies providing direct connectivity between smartphones and satellites.
These frequencies are currently used by the US companies Viasat and EchoStar. Their licences expire in 2027.
The European Commission’s proposal has sparked a dispute with the United States. In October, the US ambassador to the EU told the Financial Times that if the European Union maintains its plans, European companies could face sanctions he described as devastating.
SpaceX, which operates Starlink, also opposed the initiative. The company said the restrictions could worsen connectivity in Ukraine.
According to Financial Times sources, European officials informally support the initiative by the four operators. The EU is seeking to reduce its dependence on digital infrastructure provided by suppliers outside the bloc.
Implementing the project could be difficult, as most satellite constellations belong to US or Chinese companies. Europe’s Eutelsat has nearly 700 satellites, while Starlink has more than 11,000 satellites in orbit.
Starshield restrictions in Ukraine
In October 2026, Ukraine faced restrictions on the operation of the Starshield military satellite communications system. On October 14, SpaceX imposed a speed limit of 160 km/h for terminal movement.
The following day, eight brigades of the Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed to AIN that connectivity had been restored. At the same time, some units continued to report disruptions at speeds above 110 km/h. The White House called the situation a technical malfunction.
Against the backdrop of these restrictions, US intelligence representatives warned Ukraine that intelligence sharing could be completely halted if strikes on Russian energy infrastructure continued. The United States had previously suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March 2025, but resumed it after talks in Jeddah.
US senators also proposed that Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspend strikes on Russian energy facilities for 100 days in exchange for expanding Starlink coverage approximately 300 km into Russia. This would allow Ukrainian forces to use satellite communications to attack Russian missile and drone launchers.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Zelenskyy reportedly expressed readiness to agree to these terms.
