Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent to explore a joint bid in the future allocation of spectrum for mobile satellite services in Europe. The aim is direct-to-device services connecting phones to satellites, with open and non-discriminatory access for all mobile operators. The four would provide ground infrastructure and coordination functions in Europe without investing directly in a satellite constellation. The satellite partner has not yet been chosen.

What it means: The move responds to two pressures. The first is commercial: services such as phone connectivity via Starlink show that coverage in remote areas can be provided without masts on the ground, and European operators do not want to lose that market. The second is political: the European Commission is preparing a new EU-level selection process for the 2 GHz band, where current licences expire in 2027, and it puts weight on sovereignty and the security of critical communications. A consortium of the four largest groups under European control fits that agenda. At the same time, it concentrates a lot of power in a few players, which competition authorities and smaller operators will examine. The commitment to open access for every operator will therefore be crucial. For Greece, with many islands and mountain areas lacking a stable signal, direct satellite connectivity could improve coverage for emergency messages and basic data. This is still a letter of intent rather than a binding deal, and the choice of satellite partner will decide how European the solution really is.

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