Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone Group and Telefonica are in preliminary discussions to form a consortium that would bid for satellite spectrum in the European Union’s proposed 2 GHz framework and develop direct-to-device services. Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the operators have made no final decision on forming the consortium or participating in an auction. Under the EU proposal, one-third of the band would be reserved for companies majority-owned by European entities, while another third would support sovereign communications services from the IRIS² constellation and the final third would remain open to international bidders. The arrangement could give Europe its first heavyweight homegrown competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink in direct-to-device connectivity, although Starlink has not secured EU spectrum authorization for independently offering the service in the bloc. Deutsche Telekom already has a commercial relationship with Starlink, while Vodafone’s 50:50 venture with AST SpaceMobile could require an ownership change to meet the proposed European-majority rule. The operators are also seeking to spread the multibillion-euro costs of satellite connectivity, as the EU’s rule-making process accelerates without a confirmed auction date.