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Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile to Build Europe-Led Satellite Constellation for Secure Connectivity

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Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile announced plans on Friday to develop a Europe-led satellite constellation designed to provide direct satellite-to-smartphone connectivity for both commercial and government applications.

The joint venture will establish its European operational headquarters in Germany, with potential sites near Munich or Hannover under consideration. The new system will serve as a “sovereign satellite solution”, providing secure communications to European mobile network operators, public agencies, and emergency services.

According to the companies, the constellation will feature a “command switch” to ensure European oversight, with built-in encryption and control systems for secure communication and satellite management.

The initiative aims to enhance broadband access and improve disaster relief capabilities across the continent, particularly in underserved regions. Industry analysts estimate the satellite-to-phone connectivity market could surpass $10 billion by 2033, reflecting growing demand for broadband in remote areas.

The announcement follows Elon Musk’s Starlink striking a deal with Veon on Thursday to deliver direct-to-cell connectivity to up to 150 million users across its markets. SpaceX also expanded its U.S. spectrum holdings, signaling intensified competition in the satellite communications sector.

AST SpaceMobile, which currently operates six satellites and plans to expand to 60 by 2026, is positioning itself as Europe’s alternative to U.S.-based Starlink. Vodafone, a major investor in AST, said that operators in 21 EU member states have expressed interest in joining the project, which is slated for commercial launch in 2026.

Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle said the initiative will provide Europe with secure, sovereign satellite communications that complement terrestrial networks, strengthening the continent’s digital autonomy.

Europe’s Airbus, Thales, Leonardo Near Satellite Merger to Rival Starlink

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Europe’s leading aerospace groups Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo are finalizing a long-awaited merger of their satellite manufacturing operations, aimed at creating a continental space champion capable of competing with Elon Musk’s Starlink, people familiar with the talks told Reuters.

While the official announcement, initially expected Wednesday, was delayed by legal and financial fine-tuning, insiders said the deal remains on track, with only minor details causing the hold-up. “The announcement is ready,” said one source. “It’s industrially, technically, and financially complicated, but the framework is intact.”

Under the plan — known internally as “Projet Bromo” — the three companies will combine their satellite assets into a joint holding company, each owning roughly one-third after balancing payments. The new entity will require up to two years to finalize, pending regulatory approval, and could face scrutiny from EU competition authorities that previously blocked similar ventures.

The merger would make the group the largest global manufacturer of geostationary satellites, overtaking Maxar, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin, according to data from Quilty Space. However, analysts note that the geostationary satellite market has been shrinking due to the rise of low-Earth orbit constellations, led by SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

“Europe had a commanding lead in geostationary satellite manufacturing,” said Caleb Henry, research director at Quilty Space. “But this market has shrunk considerably in the face of these new titans of industry.”

The merger is seen as a strategic lifeline for Europe’s fragmented satellite industry, which has struggled to stay competitive amid rapid shifts in global space technology and soaring demand for low-orbit broadband systems.

Although corporate governance details — such as who will chair or lead the merged group — remain unsettled, sources said all three companies are committed to cooperation, driven by falling market share and rising losses in their satellite divisions.

If completed, the merger would mark the most significant consolidation in Europe’s aerospace industry in decades, signaling a coordinated effort to reclaim technological leadership in the new era of commercial space.

Eutelsat Misses Forecasts as Weak Video Sales Offset Growth in Government Services

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Eutelsat (ETL.PA), the French satellite operator and rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink, reported disappointing first-quarter results on Tuesday as a sharp drop in its video broadcasting division overshadowed solid growth in government contracts, particularly in Ukraine.

Revenue for the quarter ending in September fell 1.2% year-on-year to €283 million ($330 million) on a comparable basis, missing analyst expectations of €295 million, according to company data.

The company’s video segment, which still represents 47% of total revenue and reaches over a billion global viewers, declined 10.5%, reflecting a prolonged slump in satellite TV demand and the continued fallout from European sanctions on Russian broadcasters. French regulators recently ordered Eutelsat to halt transmissions of two Russian channels tied to sanctioned entities — a move the company said would cost around €16 million this year.

Eutelsat’s other major division, government services, was the standout performer, rising 18.5% year-on-year to €52.4 million, driven by defense and connectivity contracts in Eastern Europe. Chief Financial Officer Christophe Caudrelier told analysts that while demand for satellite broadband is growing rapidly, Starlink continues to dominate the B2C market, challenging Eutelsat’s growth trajectory.

Through its subsidiary OneWeb, Eutelsat operates more than 600 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, giving it the only LEO constellation besides Starlink — a key part of Europe’s push for independent satellite infrastructure. A €1.5 billion capital infusion led by France and the UK is expected to close by the end of 2025 to help bolster competitiveness.

Despite the weak quarter, Eutelsat maintained its full-year and long-term targets, betting that its diversification into broadband and government services will offset the gradual decline of its legacy video operations.