Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone are teaming up to challenge SpaceX’s Starlink for direct satellite coverage in Europe. Their shared ambition is clear: meet the demand for universal coverage, bolster public network resilience, and protect critical communications. These operators plan to manage ground infrastructure and coordination, while a yet-to-be-announced satellite partner handles the constellation.

The move is part of a broader European push to develop homegrown satellite capabilities. Meanwhile, in the US, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are collaborating to enhance rural network capacity and improve the customer experience. The European Union is also considering reserving some of the 2 GHz band for local companies to offer satellite services, a move met with criticism from SpaceX, who fear it could exacerbate service issues in Ukraine.

The partnership aims to leverage European governance and market access with proven satellite technology and deployment expertise, creating a unified platform to tackle both rural and underserved urban areas. This could also help satellite providers reach more customers, but it remains to be seen whether Europe can match the technological and financial might of SpaceX.

With both regions vying for technological dominance, this could be the start of a new space race, albeit one without the flashy marketing of Starlink. Whether it brings better service or just more satellites, only time will tell.