European Telcos Set to Collaborate on Satellite Spectrum Bid

Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Orange are reportedly forming a consortium to submit a joint bid for the 3.5 GHz satellite spectrum that the European Commission will auction next month. The partners plan to secure 10 MHz of bandwidth to launch a low‑Earth‑orbit satellite broadband network across the EU, sharing launch costs and ground‑station infrastructure. By pooling resources, the group aims to accelerate deployment, cut capital expenditure, and help the EU meet its 2025 broadband targets—particularly by extending high‑speed connectivity to rural and underserved regions.