Bloomberg has learned that four of Europe’s largest telecom operators have begun preliminary discussions about a shared bid for EU satellite spectrum, a move that could lay the groundwork for a European alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation.
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone, and Telefonica have all signaled interest in pooling resources to acquire the spectrum. The talks remain at an early stage, according to sources familiar with the matter, and no formal agreement has emerged.
The timing carries unusual complications. Deutsche Telekom signed a partnership with Starlink in March 2026, aligning itself with the very company a prospective European rival would challenge. Meanwhile, three of the four operators already participate in a separate satellite joint venture with AST SpaceMobile, a direct competitor to both Starlink and any future EU-backed network.
Those overlapping commitments could make the path toward a unified bid far more tangled than it first appears.
The EU has pushed for greater autonomy in satellite broadband infrastructure, concerned about reliance on American-owned networks for critical connectivity. Spectrum allocation represents the first major hurdle. Without access to the right frequencies, no European constellation can realistically operate.
A coordinated bid from the continent’s largest carriers would reshape the competitive landscape. It would also test whether traditional telecom incumbents can pivot fast enough to match the vertical integration and launch cadence of SpaceX.
As a result, industry observers will watch closely whether these early conversations harden into a concrete proposal. The spectrum auction itself will likely reveal just how serious Europe’s ambitions have become.
