Four of Europe’s largest telecommunications operators—Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone Group, and Telefónica—are in early-stage talks to form a consortium aimed at bidding on European Union satellite spectrum and delivering direct-to-mobile services, according to a report from Bloomberg News.
The proposed alliance would target a dedicated portion of the 2 GHz airwaves that European regulators plan to reserve specifically for EU-controlled businesses. The initiative reflects a broader push by Brussels to bolster sovereign satellite infrastructure, promote local enterprise, and reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign technology providers.
Under spectrum allocation framework proposed by the European Commission, two-thirds of the satellite spectrum designated for mobile services on the EU’s multi-orbit satellite array, known as IRIS², will be earmarked for commercial use. That commercial slice is split evenly between EU and non-EU companies, and the four-way operator group would bid on the EU-reserved allotment.
IRIS² serves as the European Union’s primary alternative to low-Earth orbit broadband constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink. The flagship infrastructure project is managed by the European Commission alongside a primary industry consortium that includes European satellite operators SES SA, Eutelsat, and Hispasat.
Discussions regarding the joint venture remain preliminary, and no binding decisions or bid plans have been finalized. Vodafone, Orange, and Telefónica declined to comment on the report, while Deutsche Telekom did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
