European telecoms firms explore alternative to Starlink
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone are jointly examining a bid for future satellite spectrum.
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Four major European telecoms companies want to jointly investigate whether they can bid for spectrum for mobile satellite services. The plan should make Europe less dependent on American satellite networks such as Starlink, but does not yet offer a direct replacement for existing infrastructure.
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone confirmed on Monday that they are exploring a joint bid for future spectrum. This concerns frequencies that would allow mobile connections to be offered directly via satellites, including in places where fixed or mobile networks are limited.
The move follows growing concerns about European dependence on technology from the United States. Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite network, is currently far more developed than European alternatives. The debate gained extra weight following reports about restrictions on military use of the service in Ukraine.
A joint spectrum plan does not mean that the four companies will immediately build a satellite constellation. They must first determine which frequencies will become available, what the cooperation will look like and what technology will be needed. European regulations on spectrum allocation and market access must also be followed.
Europe is also working on IRIS², an EU programme for secure satellite communications. The European Commission describes the network as infrastructure for governments and commercial users. According to information from the Commission, full capacity will only become operational later. Until then, existing networks operated by companies such as Eutelsat and SES can meet only part of the need.
For consumers, satellite connectivity may be particularly relevant in remote areas, at sea and when terrestrial networks fail. The first business consequences are likely to affect telecoms companies, governments, defence and providers of critical infrastructure. A European option could improve the negotiating position vis-à-vis American providers, but would not automatically be cheaper or technically equivalent.
The market has already reacted in recent days to the possibility that European providers could play a larger role. Eutelsat, which operates a European low-Earth-orbit constellation with OneWeb, rose following reports about restrictions on Starlink. Such share-price movements reflect investors’ expectations and are not evidence that Europe already has a fully fledged alternative.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Four European telecoms companies are investigating a joint bid for satellite spectrum.
- IRIS² is a European programme for secure satellite communications.
- Starlink currently has a much larger operational network than European alternatives.
Left
Arguments Emphasises public and European control over critical digital infrastructure and warns against dependence on a single private American provider.
Values Strategic autonomy, public control and digital equality.
Consequences Wants European investment, open access to infrastructure and priority for connectivity in remote areas over purely commercial profit.
Centre
Arguments Sees cooperation between companies and governments as a pragmatic way to build resilience, provided that procurement and market access remain transparent.
Values Security, innovation and efficient spending.
Consequences Wants a mix of European public infrastructure and private providers, with clear interoperability and security standards.
Right
Arguments Emphasises competition, technological speed and the risk that European projects become too expensive or too slow because of bureaucracy.
Values Market forces, efficiency and national security.
Consequences Wants room for private investment, rapid spectrum allocation and less regulation that hinders commercial providers.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The announced investigation by four telecoms companies and the role of IRIS² have been confirmed by Reuters and the European Commission. Claims about future coverage, prices or technical equivalence have not been presented as established facts.
- confirmed Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone are jointly exploring a bid for satellite spectrum. — Reported by Reuters. source
- confirmed IRIS² is an EU programme for secure satellite connectivity. — Description by the European Commission. source
- confirmed Europe does not yet have a direct, fully fledged replacement for Starlink. — Reuters describes European alternatives as limited or still under development. source
- confirmed Eutelsat operates OneWeb. — Reported in Reuters coverage of Eutelsat. source
Editor's note
The telecoms companies have announced an investigation, not an operational network. The text distinguishes between the future spectrum plan, IRIS² and the existing OneWeb services.Sources
- European telecom groups mull joint bid for mobile satellite spectrum — Reuters via Euronext
- IRIS² – Europe’s space-based secure connectivity system — Europese Commissie
- Europe's big telcos explore joint spectrum bid to rival Starlink — Light Reading
- Eutelsat shares jump as Ukraine flags curbs on Starlink military-grade service — Reuters via Euronext
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „starlink satellieten”
- FD — „starlink satellieten”
- Trouw — „starlink satellieten”