I just noticed something interesting happening in Barcelona this week at the MWC: the battle for satellite 5G internet is intensifying, and traditional operators are starting to see themselves in a mirror. SpaceX announced that in 2027 it will launch next-generation Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capacity, equipped to connect directly to phones without passing through ground antennas. But the most significant point is that these v2 satellites promise 100 times more bandwidth than the current generation, reaching up to 150 Mbps. That means real satellite 5G internet, not just emergency messages like Apple offers.

Deutsche Telekom has already signed an agreement to bring this service to its 140 million customers in 10 European countries. It sounds good on paper, but here’s where it gets complicated: telecom operators are in a strange position. According to GSMA Intelligence, there are already 133 partnerships between traditional operators and satellite companies. The logic is clear: if you have the best network, you gain market share. The problem is that Starlink isn’t hiding its intentions. Recently, it bought frequencies from EchoStar for $17 billion and wants to use them globally. In other words, your partner today could be your competitor tomorrow.

That’s why some operators like Vodafone are playing it differently. They partnered with AST SpaceMobile to create SatCo, with their own satellites in low Earth orbit. Orange and Telefónica also announced alliances with AST and SatCo this week. The interesting part is that Orange is being strategic: it wants to include security clauses to ensure that satellites aren’t controlled from abroad when they fly over Europe. In other words, they aim to avoid complete dependence on a single power.

The reality is that satellite 5G internet is no longer science fiction. We’re witnessing a race where Europeans don’t want to fall behind, Americans are moving quickly, and traditional operators are caught between a rock and a hard place: they need this technology but fear getting trapped. Eutelsat hasn’t launched direct-to-cell yet, but its CEO hinted that they are considering it. This will be interesting to follow in the coming months.