Deutsche Telekom Picks Starlink to Close European Coverage Gaps
Deutsche Telekom has announced that it is bringing satellite-to-mobile connectivity into its network strategy, announcing a partnership with Starlink to extend coverage in hard-to-reach areas across Europe.
The move targets so-called “whitespots”, locations where traditional mobile expansion is difficult due to terrain, environmental restrictions or infrastructure constraints. Rather than replacing terrestrial networks, the new capability is positioned as a complementary layer that activates when mobile coverage disappears.
Under the plan, compatible smartphones will automatically connect to Starlink satellites when terrestrial signal is lost, enabling access to data, voice, video and messaging services. The service will use Starlink’s Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum and is expected to launch in multiple Telekom markets in early 2028, including Germany.
The announcement highlights two strategic themes shaping the D2D landscape:
Network resilience: Satellite connectivity will act as a backup during natural disasters, power outages or infrastructure failures.
Seamless user experience: The goal is automatic switching between terrestrial and satellite connectivity, supporting Telekom’s “everywhere network” concept.
For Deutsche Telekom, the partnership reinforces its broader non-terrestrial strategy, adding direct-to-device satellite capability alongside continued investment in terrestrial 5G. For Starlink, it represents a major European deployment aligned with its next-generation V2 satellite roadmap, expanding direct-to-device broadband services beyond messaging into full data and voice.
The result is another sign that satellite-enabled mobile coverage is shifting from trial phase toward mainstream network planning, with European operators increasingly using NTN to close the final gaps in coverage rather than building more towers.