Four operators explore a joint spectrum bid

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica are in preliminary talks about combining forces to secure key frequencies for satellite services that reach phones directly, POLITICO reported. The 2 GHz band matters for satellite mobile connectivity, and the frequencies are set to become available again next year. Two sources familiar with the talks confirmed the plan to POLITICO, a plan Bloomberg had reported before Emmanuel Macron's speech on 10 September. The European Commission is weighing an allocation procedure that could set aside part of the resources for European companies. Orange executive vice president Michaël Trabbia said the group was considering the idea but declined to give details. He added that Orange wants to offer the service to customers without a single dominant player emerging. Vodafone declined to comment, while Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica did not respond to requests for information.

Macron's appeal and the Starlink target

At the International Space Summit in Paris, Macron urged Europe's leading space players to form a new alliance that would strengthen collective satellite capacity. The stated aim is cooperation, but the real target is Starlink, the satellite network run by SpaceX, the company led by Elon Musk. Europe has its own satellite systems, yet Starlink keeps a large lead in fast internet delivered from low orbit, largely because it operates many satellites there. Dependence on the system is most visible in Ukraine, where it plays a key role in military communications. Starlink hopes these frequencies will let it offer mobile services without partnering with local telecom operators. MEP Michał Kobosko argued that Europe cannot hand full control of its satellite communications to companies based outside Europe. SpaceX did not respond to POLITICO's request for comment.

The EU rulebook and the 2 GHz allocation

EU telecom ministers meet in Limerick, Ireland, on 13 October to discuss a legislative proposal that could ease access to these services for leading European operators. The Commission's draft from May sets common rules for choosing service providers across the EU. Current permits expire in May 2027, and the draft would give existing users a two-year extension during a transition period. According to Reuters, two-thirds of the band would serve commercial services, split equally between operators from inside and outside the EU. The consortium wants to bid for the part reserved for European firms, though that does not mean Starlink would be fully shut out. The proposal is still in legislative work, and the consortium has not yet been agreed.

Europe's own satellite push

Iceye, a Polish-Finnish company led by Rafał Modrzewski, is also working to strengthen Europe's position in space. In early October it signed an agreement with Finland's Nokia to build European satellite communication systems for supporting and defending EU states. Modrzewski stressed the principle behind the effort:

“Countries must be able to have full control over their communications, without depending on the conditions a foreign commercial operator sets for its services.”

Direct-to-device technology can supplement mobile networks in remote areas or after infrastructure failures. Not every phone will be able to use it straight away, because connectivity in the MSS band may require special chipsets that are in limited supply. Starlink opposes the proposal and warns of disruption, including for emergency communications in Ukraine. That warning is the company's stance, not a confirmed effect of EU rules.

Key dates

The sequence starts with Macron's appeal in Paris on 10 September. Iceye and Nokia signed their agreement in early October, and EU telecom ministers meet in Limerick on 13 October. Current permits expire in May 2027, and the draft proposes a two-year extension for existing users. The consortium has not been agreed yet, and the EU draft is still at the legislative stage.