Deutsche Telekom Joins European Consortium for Satellite Mobile Connectivity

Deutsche Telekom and three other major European telecom companies – Vodafone, Telefónica, and Orange – have announced a joint bid for spectrum to enable satellite-based mobile connectivity, targeting service availability around 2029. The collaboration, formalized through a letter of intent, focuses on frequencies expected to become available in 2029, currently used for in-flight internet access.

The initiative primarily aims to provide mobile coverage in areas with limited or no existing terrestrial network access, enhancing network resilience and supporting the development of a European satellite constellation. A key component of the plan is the implementation of Direct-to-Device (D2D) services, allowing smartphones to connect directly to satellites where traditional cellular networks are unavailable. According to data from Germany’s Federal Network Agency, approximately 1.2% of Germany’s land area lacks even 2G coverage for Deutsche Telekom, with Vodafone and O2 Telefónica reporting 1.7% and 1.6% respectively, highlighting the potential market for this technology.

The move underscores a broader effort to establish European independence in the space infrastructure sector, explicitly signaling a preference for avoiding reliance on US-based providers like SpaceX’s Starlink. While Deutsche Telekom previously announced a partnership with Starlink to address coverage gaps, the company clarified that the new consortium’s intentions do not supersede existing agreements. The European Commission recently indicated its intention to reserve a portion of the 2-gigahertz frequency band for non-European satellite-mobile service providers, allocating one-third for state use, and dividing the remaining two-thirds between EU and non-EU operators.

The initiative has received support from European policymakers, who view it as a step towards reducing dependence on American technology and strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty. The focus is not on enabling high-bandwidth applications in remote areas, but rather on providing a minimum level of digital connectivity. This collaborative effort reflects a growing trend within the European telecommunications industry to collectively address strategic challenges and compete on a global scale.