$ASTS – European Telecom Giants Join Forces to Expand Satellite Connectivity Four of Europe’s biggest telecom operators — Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone — are exploring a joint bid for satellite spectrum, potentially strengthening AST SpaceMobile’s position in Europe’s direct-to-device market. The four companies have signed a Letter of Intent to explore jointly securing Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum. The goal is to extend mobile connectivity to areas with weak or no cellular coverage and improve network resilience across Europe. AST SpaceMobile has welcomed the initiative as it works with these operators to expand its space-based cellular broadband network. (Reuters, AST SpaceMobile announcement) The proposed service aims to bring satellite connectivity directly to everyday smartphones, helping users stay connected in remote areas where traditional mobile towers cannot provide reliable coverage. The partnership is particularly relevant for ASTS because its European joint venture with Vodafone, Satellite Connect Europe, is designed to distribute AST’s satellite services to mobile operators across the region. Orange has also signed agreements with AST SpaceMobile and Satellite Connect Europe to explore direct-to-device services, including demonstrations covering voice calls, SMS and data. (Vodafone, Orange) According to AST SpaceMobile, the four operators collectively serve more than 500 million mobile subscribers. Their participation could help accelerate network integration and provide a broad route to market once services are ready. Why it matters: This could strengthen ASTS’s European expansion by bringing major telecom operators together around satellite connectivity. However, the spectrum bid is still being explored, and the announcement does not mean a final spectrum award or commercial contract has been secured. Bottom line: $ASTS is making further progress in Europe as major telecom operators explore a coordinated satellite strategy. Investors should watch the spectrum process, network integration and commercial rollout milestones. #ASTS #ASTSpaceMobile #DeutscheTelekom #Orange #Telefonica #Vodafone #SatelliteInternet #DirectToDevice #Telecom #SpaceTech