Several of Europe's largest mobile carriers are joining forces for a shared satellite program that connects phones directly to satellites – explicitly without SpaceX and its Starlink network, The Verge reports. It is the latest attempt to build strategic autonomy in connectivity.
What's planned: With the "direct" approach, known as Direct-to-Device, satellites in low orbit beam mobile signals straight to unmodified smartphones, with no separate dish or Starlink hardware needed. Carriers intend to cover rural and remote areas while reducing dependence on a single US provider.
Why it matters: The satellite-to-phone market is currently dominated by US and Chinese providers. An owner-run network gives European carriers better negotiating positions on roaming and infrastructure – and less geopolitical exposure, an exposure made vivid in recent days: the US has threatened retaliation against the EU should the bloc restrict SpaceX's frequency usage.
What's open: An announcement is not a launch date. Satellite manufacturing, frequency regulation and funding are the next hurdles – and the frequency question applies to this program too, as long as the transatlantic legal and spectrum dispute stays unresolved.
