Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Four European mobile operators plan joint bid for satellite frequencies
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone plan a joint bid for European frequencies used for mobile satellite services.
The four companies have signed a letter of intent to study bidding together when the frequencies are assigned, with some expected to become available in 2029.
Their aim is to use satellites to connect phones in areas without mobile coverage.
The service, known as Direct-to-Device, is not yet built into most smartphones, though the companies expect it to reach more devices in coming years.
They say the plan could improve coverage in underserved areas and make critical communications more resilient, while supporting European control of key space infrastructure.
The operators plan to build ground infrastructure in Europe, but the satellite partner has not been selected; one account names AST as a leading candidate, while another says the operator is still unclear.
Under the proposed arrangement, satellite services would need to give all mobile network operators open, non-discriminatory access.
Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and Orange have signed a letter of intent to study a joint bid for European mobile satellite service frequencies.
The frequencies are expected to become available in 2029.
The companies say satellite connectivity could extend mobile coverage in underserved areas and strengthen network resilience and critical communications.
They plan to build key ground infrastructure and coordination functions in Europe.
A satellite partner has not yet been selected, and the companies say the initiative does not replace their existing satellite partnerships.
- Who
- Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and Orange.
- What
- They signed a letter of intent to study a possible joint bid for mobile satellite service frequencies in Europe.
- When
- The letter was announced on October 19, 2026. The frequencies are expected to become available in 2029.
- Where
- Europe.
- Why
- The companies say the initiative could extend coverage in underserved areas, strengthen network resilience and protect critical communications.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Expansión said it had previously reported that AST was a possible satellite partner.
Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and Orange announced that they had signed a letter of intent to study a joint bid.
The frequencies are expected to become available.
- Companies
- Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and Orange
- Frequency type
- Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)
- Expected availability
- 2029
- Satellite partner
- Not yet selected
- European coverage without 2G
- Germany: 1.2% for Deutsche Telekom, 1.7% for Vodafone and 1.6% for O2 Telefónica, according to figures cited for June
3 sources
What people are saying
By combining the broad commercial reach of operators, their network capabilities and operational expertise, the initiative could accelerate market deployment, enable efficient spectrum use and facilitate the seamless integration of satellite connectivity into existing mobile networks.