EU studying how to help Ukraine if Starlink restricted - Politico
Illustrative photo: The EU is studying how to help Ukraine in case of Starlink restrictions (Getty Images)
The European Commission is studying how it can help Ukraine provide satellite communications in the event of restricted access to the Starlink network, Politico reports.
According to the agency, space-based communication systems are an important tool for Ukraine, but it is not yet known whether billionaire Elon Musk will continue to offer Starlink services in times of war.
Thomas Regnier, a representative of the EU Commission for Digital Affairs, said that Kyiv has already expressed interest in how it can use the combined network of existing EU national government satellites Govsatcom and IRIS, which will be put into operation in the 2030s.
Also this week, MEP Christophe Grudler of the Renaissance Group in a letter to the European Union executive called for an assessment of all possible alternative satellite solutions that the EU could offer to Ukraine instead of Starlink. He noted that accelerating the deployment of the State Communications Agency in 2025 by skipping the certification process could be a temporary solution while IRIS is being developed.
Another option is to use the commercial capacity of Eutelsat, Hispasat, or SES satellites.
Risk of Starlink limitation
Starlink plays an important role in Ukraine, providing connectivity for the military, government agencies, critical infrastructure, and civilians. Thanks to the satellite internet, the military can coordinate operations, use drones, and maintain communications even in active combat zones.
Last week, Reuters reported that United States negotiators are pressuring Ukraine to provide access to strategically important mineral resources. During the talks, the US side raised the issue of a possible disconnection of the country from Starlink.
