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Major European mobile carriers are teaming up for a ‘direct’ satellite program without Starlink

Major European mobile carriers are teaming up for a ‘direct’ satellite program without Starlink
The Verge Monday 19 October 2026, 14:24 UTC By Stevie Bonifield 1 min read
Key Points

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone signed a letter of intent saying they're considering a joint bid for spectrum that would support European direct-to-device satellite competition for SpaceX's Starlink. The four telecom companies say they would handle the ground infrastructure while a separate, unannounced satellite partner provides the satellite constellation: The joint initiative by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone has a clear ambition: to...

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone signed a letter of intent saying they're considering a joint bid for spectrum that would support European direct-to-device satellite competition for SpaceX's Starlink. The four telecom companies say they would handle the ground infrastructure while a separate, unannounced satellite partner provides the satellite constellation:

The joint initiative by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone has a clear ambition: to meet customer demand for universal coverage in underserved areas, strengthen the resilience of public networks, protect critical communications, and support the develop …

Read the full story at The Verge.

European (ORG) Starlink Deutsche Telekom (ORG) Orange, Telefónica (ORG) Vodafone (ORG) SpaceX (ORG) Starlink (ORG) Deutsche Telekom (ORG)
Originally published by The Verge Read original →

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