Europe’s Major Mobile Operators Talk About Satellite-to-Mobile Collaboration

Brief Overview

• Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone, and Telefonica are considering a partnership for satellite-to-mobile services.
• The group intends to bid for EU satellite spectrum to enable direct mobile services.
• The EU is set to allocate a considerable amount of satellite spectrum to companies based in Europe.
• The IRIS² project serves as Europe’s alternative to Starlink.

Formation of the Consortium

Reports indicate that Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone Group, and Telefonica are in preliminary talks to establish a consortium focused on bidding for satellite spectrum within the European Union. The aim is to provide direct mobile services, based on information from sources with knowledge of the situation. This prospective alliance would seek a portion of the 2GHz frequency range that the EU has suggested should be reserved for local providers. The project aims to enhance Europe’s independent satellite capabilities.

Strategic Allocation of Spectrum

In May, it was announced by the European Union that plans are underway to allocate a substantial part of valuable satellite spectrum to European firms, thereby decreasing the portion accessible to U.S. companies. This action is part of a comprehensive initiative to support local enterprises and lessen dependence on major tech companies. The European Commission has earmarked two-thirds of the spectrum within the IRIS² multi-orbit network of 290 satellites for commercial activities, with equal shares assigned to EU and non-EU operators. The envisioned consortium would compete for the EU operator segment.

The Initiative IRIS²

IRIS² is Europe’s tactical response to the SpaceX Starlink project. It is spearheaded by the European Commission and includes a consortium made up of SES SA, Eutelsat, and HispaSat. This initiative is aimed at strengthening Europe’s satellite capabilities and fostering a competitive landscape within the satellite communications industry.

Conclusion

The ongoing discussions among Europe’s leading mobile operators suggest a vigorous move towards enhancing regional satellite capabilities. Should the consortium materialize, it would enable these firms to bid for a segment of the EU satellite spectrum, aligning with the EU’s ambitions to enhance local satellite communication and minimize dependence on non-European technology providers. This development occurs under the broader context of the IRIS² initiative, which seeks to position Europe as a significant player in the global satellite communications sector.