Major European mobile operators are pushing to jointly build satellite communications services to counter Starlink, operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The idea is to secure satellite communications spectrum in Europe and jointly operate a ground network to reduce reliance on U.S. companies.

According to U.S. tech media outlet The Verge on Oct. 19, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to consider a joint bid for European spectrum for mobile-satellite services (MSS). The project they are pursuing is a direct-to-device (D2D) service that connects smartphones directly to satellites. It aims to provide communications services in mountainous areas, rural regions and disaster sites beyond the reach of existing mobile base stations.

The four telecoms will not manufacture or launch satellites themselves. Instead, they will build key ground networks in Europe and handle satellite communications coordination and monitoring functions.

The satellite network itself will be provided by a specialist satellite operator to be selected separately. A satellite partner has not yet been decided.

The four telecoms said the cooperation would reduce coverage blind spots and improve the resilience of public communications networks and the security of critical communications.

They plan to open the new service not only to participating companies but also to other European mobile operators. The policy is to expand consumer choice by establishing a non-discriminatory access system that does not lock users into a specific operator.

The plan also ties into the European Union's spectrum policy. The European Commission said in May it would consider a plan to prioritise allocating parts of the 2 GHz band to European companies. The four European telecoms' project is still under review, and further negotiations are needed before spectrum is secured, a satellite operator is selected and the service is launched.

SpaceX objected, saying such policies could reduce the quality of satellite communications services in places including Ukraine. In the United States, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are also pushing cooperation to jointly use spectrum resources to expand satellite communications.