Four major European telecommunications companies—Orange, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefonica—are reportedly exploring the possibility of forming a consortium to bid for satellite spectrum in an upcoming European auction. Their goal is to compete with Starlink, a global satellite internet service provided by SpaceX, in the area of direct-to-mobile connectivity. This technology allows mobile devices to send and receive calls, texts, and data directly from satellites in space, bypassing traditional ground-based relay towers. The European Union is preparing to auction off a portion of the 2 GHz frequency band, a critical range for mobile communications, with a specific aim to reserve part of it for a European operator as part of a broader effort to enhance regional control over space-to-ground communications. The EU plans to divide the spectrum into three parts: one-third reserved for a European consortium, one-third allocated to IRIS²—a satellite constellation managed by the Luxembourg-based company SES—and one-third available to international operators. IRIS² is expected to launch in 2029 and will initially focus on high-speed broadband, with only limited direct-to-mobile capabilities. Hispasat, a Spanish satellite operator, is involved in providing some of these services. While the European companies have not officially confirmed any plans to form a consortium or participate in the auction, discussions are ongoing and remain informal. A key requirement set by European regulators is that any company seeking to bid must be majority-owned by a European entity. This rule directly impacts the four telecom giants, as they currently have partnerships with non-European firms. For example, Vodafone has formed a 50/50 joint venture with AST SpaceMobile, an American company that is also active in direct-to-mobile services. If Vodafone wants to bid for the European-reserved portion of the spectrum, it would need to adjust its partnership structure to meet the ownership requirements. SpaceX has expressed opposition to the EU's proposal, arguing that it could restrict access to the spectrum for non-European companies. Although SpaceX already provides satellite internet services across much of Europe and collaborates with European operators like Deutsche Telekom on direct-to-mobile initiatives, it does not hold its own frequency rights in the region. This limits its ability to offer these services independently in Europe. The ongoing discussions underscore the EU’s broader strategy to reduce its reliance on American satellite constellations and to strengthen its own satellite capabilities, as current licenses for space-to-ground communications are set to expire in 2027.