From The Verge · Stevie Bonifield · · 1m 10s
European carriers team up on satellite without Starlink
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone are bidding jointly for spectrum to offer direct-to-device satellite service in Europe, planning to handle ground infrastructure while a separate partner provides the constellation.
In brief
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone are bidding jointly for spectrum to offer direct-to-device satellite service in Europe, planning to handle ground infrastructure while a separate partner provides the constellation. Four major European mobile carriers signed a letter of intent to jointly bid for…
Four carriers join forces
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to jointly bid for spectrum supporting European direct-to-device satellite competition for SpaceX's Starlink.
The plan: ground plus orbit
The four operators will establish ground network infrastructure and coordination functions in Europe. A separate, still-unannounced satellite partner will provide the satellite constellation.
What they're aiming for
The joint initiative aims to meet customer demand for universal coverage in underserved areas, strengthen public network resilience, protect critical communications and support development of a European constellation.
“to meet customer demand for universal coverage in underserved areas, strengthen the resilience of public networks, protect critical communications, and support the development of a European constellation”
Europe's broader push back
In May the EU considered reserving part of the two gigahertz band for local companies to offer satellite services. SpaceX criticised the idea, claiming it would worsen service in Ukraine.
The big picture
Four major European mobile carriers signed a letter of intent to jointly bid for satellite spectrum to compete with SpaceX's Starlink, with an unnamed satellite operator to provide the constellation.
