Four European mobile operators agree to form consortium to compete with Starlink’s direct-to-mobile service

Bloomberg reports Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica agreed to create a consortium to bid for satellite spectrum and offer direct-to-mobile service amid competition from Starlink. The carriers are exploring a bid for airwaves the EU has proposed reserving for local operators. They would build ground infrastructure and an operating system, then partner with a satellite provider that has not been chosen.