Deutsche Telekom and Orange announce a partnership
Partnership Provisional 74% confidence first seen
Deutsche Telekom and Orange (along with Telefónica and Vodafone) signed a letter of intent to consider a joint bid for spectrum for a “direct-to-device” satellite program aimed at competing with SpaceX’s Starlink. The companies said they would develop the ground infrastructure while a separate, unannounced satellite partner would supply the satellite constellation. The initiative is intended to expand universal coverage in underserved areas and improve the resilience and protection of public and critical communications networks.
Decision brief
- What changed
- Deutsche Telekom and Orange, alongside Telefónica and Vodafone, signed a letter of intent to consider a joint spectrum bid for a European direct-to-device satellite program. The carriers said they would build the ground infrastructure, while an as-yet unnamed partner would provide the satellite constellation.
- Why it matters
- This signals that major European carriers are exploring a shared alternative to relying on SpaceX’s Starlink for satellite-to-phone connectivity, which could affect long-term connectivity strategy, partnership choices, and infrastructure investment planning. For decision-makers in telecom and adjacent sectors, the initiative matters because its stated goals include extending coverage in underserved areas and improving resilience for public and critical communications networks, which could influence service design, regulatory engagement, and business continuity planning.
- Evidence
- The Verge reports that Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to consider a joint spectrum bid for a direct-to-device satellite program positioned as a competitor to Starlink. The coverage consistently describes the carriers’ intended roles in ground infrastructure and notes that the satellite provider has not yet been announced.
- What remains uncertain
- The announcement is only a letter of intent, not a finalized venture, so the program’s funding model, execution timeline, governance, and technical feasibility are still unclear. It is also unknown who the satellite partner will be, whether spectrum will be secured, and how competitive the offering would be relative to existing Starlink capabilities.
- Monitor next
- Watch for the announcement of the satellite partner and any formal spectrum bid or regulatory filing that moves the project beyond the letter-of-intent stage.
Analytical support, not advice — assumptions and open questions stated above.