If Ukraine Loses Starlink, Here Are the Best Alternatives
1 min read
Summary
Starlink has been an important source of communication in war-torn Ukraine, which has become dependent on the service.
The threat of US officials cutting off Ukraine’s access to Starlink during negotiations over its access to mineral resources was reported in February.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has denied the reports, but European countries are considering alternatives to Starlink.
One option is OneWeb, a satellite communications network owned by French operator Eutelsat, but its terminals are more expensive and less mobile than Starlink’s.
With only around 300 satellites, the EU’s IRIS2 constellation won’t be operational until 2030, meaning Ukraine could be stuck without good alternatives in the short term.
Another option could be Amazon’s Project Kuiper, but it might also be prevented from helping Ukraine if the US government puts pressure on Amazon.
