SpaceX and Deutsche Telekom to Launch Satellite Mobile Service in Europe
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 02 2026
0mins
Should l Buy IRDM?
Source: CNBC
- Partnership Announcement: SpaceX's Starlink has partnered with German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom to launch a satellite mobile service in 10 European countries by 2028, targeting areas where network expansion is particularly challenging, including nature conservation zones and rugged terrains.
- Technological Advancement: This service will be the first in Europe to utilize Starlink's second-generation satellites, known as V2, and is expected to enhance user experience by providing broadband directly to mobile phones, expanding capabilities in data, voice, and messaging.
- Market Expansion: With approximately 9,000 satellites in orbit and around 9 million customers, Starlink's collaboration with Deutsche Telekom is poised to significantly increase its market share, particularly in underserved regions with limited network coverage.
- IPO Prospects: SpaceX is reportedly aiming for an IPO this year, seeking to raise up to $50 billion with a potential valuation of $1.5 trillion, which could have a profound impact on the entire private space market.
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Analyst Views on IRDM
Wall Street analysts forecast IRDM stock price to fall
7 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 41.850
Low
16.00
Averages
25.83
High
37.00
Current: 41.850
Low
16.00
Averages
25.83
High
37.00
About IRDM
Iridium Communications Inc. operates the mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. The Company enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, it delivers a portfolio of solutions for markets that require global communications. Its principal vertical lines of business include land mobile, maritime, aviation, IoT, hosted payloads and other data services, which includes navigation and timing (PNT), and the United States government. Its products include Iridium 9555, Iridium Extreme satellite phones, Iridium Extreme PTT, Iridium GO! Iridium GO!, and others. It provides voice and data communications services to businesses, the United States and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and consumers via its satellite network, which has an architecture of 66 operational satellites with in-orbit spares and related ground infrastructure.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Stock Decline: AST SpaceMobile's shares closed at $81 on Monday, down 5.30%, reflecting investor concerns over the BlueBird 7 launch failure, which heightened worries about execution risks and satellite deployment timelines.
- Surge in Trading Volume: The trading volume reached 39.2 million shares, approximately 167% above the three-month average of 14.7 million shares, indicating a significant increase in market attention towards AST SpaceMobile despite the stock's decline.
- IPO Performance: Since its IPO in 2019, AST SpaceMobile's stock has surged 729%, and while recent launch failures have impacted its price, long-term investors remain optimistic about its potential to provide space-based broadband internet access.
- Impact of Launch Failure: The failure of the BlueBird 7 satellite launch will necessitate its deliberate destruction during atmospheric re-entry; although insurance may cover this setback, it delays AST SpaceMobile's plans and could dampen investor confidence in the near term.
See More
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- Stock Volatility: AST SpaceMobile closed at $81 on Monday, down 5.30%, primarily due to investor reactions to the BlueBird 7 launch failure, indicating market concerns over execution risks and satellite deployment timelines.
- Surge in Trading Volume: The company experienced a trading volume of 39.2 million shares on Monday, which is 167% above its three-month average of 14.7 million shares, reflecting heightened market attention and volatility in investor sentiment.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Despite the recent stock decline, AST SpaceMobile has seen a 729% increase since its IPO in 2019 and a nearly 250% rise over the past 12 months, demonstrating strong market expectations for its space-based broadband internet access initiatives.
- Insurance Coverage of Risks: While the failure of BlueBird 7 will be covered by insurance, this incident has delayed AST SpaceMobile's plans and may negatively impact investor confidence in the short term, leading to a more cautious market sentiment towards the stock.
See More
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- Stock Surge: Iridium Communications' stock surged over 22% in a week, driven by the news of its peer Globalstar being acquired by Amazon, reflecting strong investor confidence and interest in satellite stocks.
- Acquisition Impact: The cash-and-stock deal valued at over $11 billion not only enhances Amazon's portfolio with Globalstar's direct-to-device services but also boosts the market value of other publicly traded satellite networks, benefiting Iridium.
- Positive Market Outlook: As the value of satellite networks continues to rise in the telecom and defense sectors, increased interest from potential acquirers is anticipated, especially with the growing prospects of deploying AI-ready data centers in space.
- Increased Industry Attention: Analysts predict a significant rise in coverage of satellite companies, likely attracting more investor interest and driving further development and investment across the industry.
See More
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- Acquisition Deal Value: Amazon has agreed to acquire Globalstar for over $11 billion in cash and stock, a transaction that not only enhances Amazon's direct-to-device services within its low Earth orbit satellite network, Amazon Leo, but also boosts the overall market value of satellite network companies.
- Iridium Stock Surge: Following the acquisition announcement, Iridium Communications saw its stock rise by more than 22% within a week, indicating strong investor interest in satellite stocks and reflecting a growing demand for satellite networks in the market.
- Positive Industry Outlook: This acquisition could attract more potential acquirers to satellite companies, especially as the importance of artificial intelligence technology rises, suggesting that the value of satellite networks in telecom and defense sectors is likely to increase further.
- Investor Caution: Despite the surge in Iridium's stock price, analysts have pointed out that Iridium was not included in the current list of top investment stocks, advising investors to exercise caution and avoid following trends blindly when pursuing satellite stocks.
See More
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- Revenue Growth Comparison: Ast Spacemobile reported $54.3 million in revenue for Q4 2025, marking a staggering 2,731% year-over-year increase, indicating its rapid expansion potential in the space broadband market, although its total revenue remains significantly lower than Iridium's $212.9 million.
- Market Performance Discrepancy: While Iridium maintains stable revenue with a net income of $25 million in Q4 2025, its stock performance has been lackluster, reflecting investors' higher expectations for Ast Spacemobile's future growth, which has led to a 1,400% increase in its stock price over the past few years.
- Business Model Analysis: Ast Spacemobile focuses on providing mobile broadband services to fill gaps in terrestrial coverage, while Iridium aims to sustain its market share by expanding its IoT and national security operations, showcasing differing strategic focuses between the two companies.
- Investor Focus: With a market capitalization of $33 billion, Ast Spacemobile's ability to continue expanding revenue is crucial for justifying its high valuation, especially given that its revenue is still in the early stages of growth.
See More
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- Narrowing Revenue Gap: Ast Spacemobile has shown a remarkable quarter-over-quarter growth with a staggering 2,731% year-over-year increase over the last eight quarters, while Iridium Communications maintained stable revenue, indicating that Ast Spacemobile is rapidly closing the revenue gap, which may attract more investor attention.
- Market Performance Comparison: Despite Ast Spacemobile's revenue being significantly lower than Iridium's, its stock has skyrocketed by 1,400% over the past few years, reflecting strong market confidence in its future growth potential, while Iridium's stock price has remained relatively stable without significant changes.
- Business Model Differences: Ast Spacemobile focuses on providing a space-based mobile broadband network aimed at users lacking terrestrial services, whereas Iridium offers mobile satellite communication services to a broader range of business and government clients, highlighting their differing market positions.
- Investor Watchpoints: With Ast Spacemobile's market valuation reaching $33 billion, investors should monitor its ability to continue expanding revenue to justify its high valuation, while Iridium is also actively expanding its IoT operations and national security projects to seek faster growth.
See More
