# Global telecommunications satellite connectivity initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-telecommunications-satellite-connectivity-initiatives > Updated: 2026-10-05T10:41:12.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 4. Major telecommunications providers in Europe and the United States are forming strategic partnerships to expand direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity. In Europe, operators including Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone, and Telefónica have entered preliminary discussions to form a consortium. This group aims to bid for satellite spectrum, specifically targeting the 2 GHz frequency band proposed by the European Commission. The initiative is intended to bolster European sovereign satellite capabilities and provide a competitive alternative to U.S.-based Starlink as current licenses approach expiration in 2027. In the United States, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have officially launched a joint venture to eliminate mobile coverage dead zones. The venture will function as a collaborative platform to standardize operating interfaces, harmonize consumer access, and simplify the transition between terrestrial towers and satellite payloads. While the carriers maintain individual commercial agreements—such as AT&T and Verizon’s work with AST SpaceMobile and T-Mobile’s deployment with SpaceX’s Starlink—the consortium will pool technical specifications to accelerate feature rollouts. Paul Roth, a wireless industry veteran, has been appointed as interim CEO. Recent developments show the industry is diversifying its approach to satellite-to-cell connectivity. In Canada, Telus and AST SpaceMobile successfully completed a test demonstrating that unmodified smartphones could connect to a low Earth orbit network for voice, text, and broadband data, with deployment targeted for remote regions within the next year. Meanwhile, in the U.S., T-Mobile has removed Starlink branding from its T-Satellite website, a move that coincides with the carriers' efforts to diversify satellite providers through their joint venture. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-05: Mobile carriers expand satellite-to-cell connectivity options Telecommunications companies are advancing direct-to-cell satellite technology, with Telus completing successful tests in Canada and T-Mobile diversifying its satellite branding and provider options in the US. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mobile-carriers-expand-satellite-to-cell-connectivity-options ### 2026-10-04: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile form satellite connectivity joint venture AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have formed a joint venture to standardize satellite direct-to-device connectivity, aiming to eliminate cellular dead zones across the United States. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/att-verizon-and-t-mobile-form-satellite-connectivity-joint-venture ### 2026-10-01: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon launch satellite joint venture AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have launched a joint venture to eliminate US mobile dead zones through direct-to-device satellite connectivity and shared spectrum resources. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/att-t-mobile-and-verizon-launch-satellite-joint-venture ### 2026-09-08: European telcos discuss consortium for satellite-to-mobile services European telcos Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone, and Telefónica are discussing a consortium to bid for EU satellite spectrum to offer direct-to-mobile services and compete with Starlink. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-telecoms-discuss-alliance-to-bid-for-eu-satellite-spectrum --- Cite as: Global telecommunications satellite connectivity initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-telecommunications-satellite-connectivity-initiatives