SpaceX’s Starlink will partner with German telco giant Deutsche Telekom to launch a satellite-based mobile service in 10 European countries, the companies announced on Monday.
The service will go live in 2028 and bring mobile communications to areas where network expansion is particularly challenging, including in areas with nature conservation requirements or demanding topography, Deutsche Telekom said in a statement.
The launch will be the first in Europe to use Starlink’s second-generation satellites, known as V2, the company said.
Stephanie Bednarek, vice president of Starlink Sales, said the launch would “expand on data, voice, and messaging by providing broadband directly to mobile phones.”
The satellite service will be launched in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which owns Starlink, is reportedly aiming to go public this year in what could be a record-setting IPO. The company is looking to raise up to $50 billion at a valuation as high as $1.5 trillion, according to Reuters.