The article discusses the importance of communication systems in military operations, specifically Starlink, a satellite internet service provided by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. The system has been widely used by Ukraine‘s armed forces during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
According to the article, while Starlink is not officially available to the Russian army, some Russian units have reportedly used it anyway. However, the system has its flaws, including terminals that are not designed for long-term use under battlefield conditions and are often damaged or broken due to extreme weather or combat stress.
Ukraine’s growing interest in alternative communication systems is driven by a desire to reduce its dependence on Musk. The European Union is reportedly in talks with four companies to possibly replace Starlink: SES, Hisdesat, Viasat, and Eutelsat/OneWeb. However, these alternatives have their own limitations, including older satellite technology that affects latency and data speed.
The article also mentions that during the Battle of Kursk, Ukrainian forces used radio and wired communications since Starlink doesn’t work in Russia. Some experts argue that cutting off Ukraine would hurt Musk as well, citing that more than 150,000 Starlink terminals are currently in use in Ukraine, generating around $15 million per month in subscription fees.
The article highlights the creativity and adaptability of Ukrainians under pressure, with some individuals improvising and teaching others how to make do and improve the existing systems.