SpaceX's Starlink will partner with German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom to launch satellite-based mobile services in 10 European countries, the companies announced on Monday. Deutsche Telekom said in a statement that the service, which will go online in 2028, will provide mobile communications in areas where network expansion is particularly challenging, including areas with nature protection requirements or complex terrain.
The company said the launch will be the first in Europe to use Starlink's second-generation satellites, known as V2.
Stephanie Bednarek, Starlink's vice president of sales, said the launch will "extend data, voice and messaging capabilities by delivering broadband directly to mobile phones."
The satellite service will be launched in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece, Croatia, and Montenegro.
Elon Musk's SpaceX, which owns Starlink, is reportedly planning to go public this year in what could be a record-setting IPO. The company is reportedly seeking to raise up to $50 billion, valuing it at as much as $1.5 trillion.