Satellite internet service is critical to Ukraine’s war effort. Chatter between Trump and Zelenski raised fear among Ukrainians that Musk can block access from the country.
Russia systematically destroyed the Ukrainian infrastructure, including the supply of electricity and the internet, shortly after the start of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022.
The help to the Ukrainians came from the space: already in March 2022, shortly after the first Russian attacks, the then Ukrainian vice-minister-minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, asked via Twitter (now known as X) to the entrepreneur Elon Musk to unlock his Starlink satellites for Ukraine. Musk replied, also via Twitter: “Starlink is active, additional reception systems are on their way.”
Since then, this satellite internet service provided by MUSK’s Spacex has been a central pillar for Ukraine’s defense effort. Starlink is mainly used by Ukrainian drones, but also by communication applications or identification of targets that make use of the internet.
But in September 2022 the confidence of the Ukrainians in Musk suffered a deep shake. Amid the first Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea, radio contact with all drones suddenly fell, and the counterattack failed. A year later, Musk himself was found to have ordered Starlink engineers to turn off the system.
Even more powerful musk
Starlink’s release to Ukraine occurred through X -made messages (then still called Twitter), without any public debate and without any control by the Ukrainian parliament.
Today Musk is an advisor to US President Donald Trump and has much wider powers than then. At the same time, it is not subject to any direct parliamentary control in the US. Starlink belongs to him, and it is he who decides which use will make this satellite system.
It cannot even be discarded that at some point he decides to sell Starlink to those who pay more. This system of satellite communications, strategically important to Ukraine, could fall into wrong hands, for example, those of totalitarian or enemies.
Reports in the international press that Starlink would be turned off if Ukraine did not sign the deal with the US on minerals-published before the chat between presidents Volodimir Zelenski and Donald Trump at the White House-were called Musk lies.
Expensive and with limited availability
In any case, Ukraine and its allies are actively seeking militarily viable alternatives to the musk system. But satellite communication systems provided by Sweden and Germany cannot fill the gap that a Starlink would create.
However, economic considerations can also play a role in musk decisions. He has invested a lot in the Starlink network and does not want to scare possible interested in using it.
Only about 4 million people use Starlink around the world. The service is available in North America, South America, Europe, parts of sub -Saharan Africa in southern Africa, some Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand – that is, not exactly in structurally weak areas where satellite internet is really necessary.
The current availability is probably explained with the high costs of the Internet via Starlink satellite: in Brazil, only the antenna costs $ 2,000. And the monthly use rate starts at $ 184, without taxes, according to the company’s website.
Starlink’s large customers, such as Poland, Italy, Indonesia and Greenland, are increasingly suspicious of the system’s reliability, which is subject to the moods of their owner.
In the case of Ukraine, it is possible to imagine a scenario in which Starlink’s availability is gradually restricted to areas less sensitive to war efforts such as civil use, then to parts of military communications and, finally, for use on the front line, until the Ukrainian government gives in to US pressure.
How does Starlink works?
Starlink creates internet access by transporting data via laser, similar to a fiber optic cable. But this transfer occurs between satellites. For this purpose, Musk has been building a network of satellites for years.
Until January 31, 2025, Musk’s Space Company, Spacex, had already launched a total of Starlink’s 7,770 satellites in the low orbit of Earth. The goal is to expand the network to up to 42,000 satellites.
To receive the data transmitted by satellites requires a receiving device on the ground, which acts as a router and connects to the nearest satellite. The receptor automatically aligns the receiving antenna, which is similar to a satellite parabolic antenna, the available satellite and the internet connection is established.
Satellite internet is relatively easy to use. The speed is impressive. Starlink satellites orbit the earth at an altitude ranging from 328 to 614 kilometers, which is significantly lower than competitors’ satellites.
The satellites of the current market leader, Hughesnet, orbit the land at an altitude of 35,000 kilometers. As a result, data transmission is about ten times longer than with Starlink.
Clogged terrestrial orbit of satellites
Of course all these satellites clog the terrestrial orbit. In November 2024, they were over 13,000. Of these, about 8,600 belong to the US.
Starlink’s full network is expected to have up to 42,000 satellites. This also puts at risk other satellites and still hinders astronomical observations from the earth.
Starlink satellites are already being held responsible for most nearly satellites. And when a satellite automatically changes its trajectory to avoid a possible collision, it can trigger a fatal chain reaction.
Another problem is the relatively short life of Starlink satellites, which stop working after about five years. Even if they burn and disintegrate largely as they re -enter the earth’s atmosphere, new satellites need to be constantly thrown into space to avoid gaps on the net.
Originally published by DW on 03/05/2025
Por Alexander Freund
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/03/05/e-se-elon-musk-desligar-a-starlink-na-ucrania/
