Starlink risks losing Europe's trust over failure to fulfill contracts
Photo: Andrius Kubilius (RBC-Ukraine)
European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius states that Starlink could lose the trust of European countries if it fails to fulfill its contractual obligations. According to him, this is not a matter of the company’s goodwill toward Ukraine, but rather of contracts paid for by some European countries, Radio Free Europe reports.
What EU Commissioner says about Starlink's contractual obligations
Starlink's satellite communications are critically important for the Ukrainian military, but the company could lose the trust of European countries if it fails to fulfill its contractual obligations, says European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius. He also comments on previous disruptions in satellite communication speeds and issues with the provision of US intelligence data to Ukraine.
The European Commissioner says that, first and foremost, Europe hopes Starlink will continue to fulfill its contractual obligations. He stresses that the issue was not simply Starlink's goodwill toward Ukraine, but rather its contractual obligations, noting that some European countries are paying for these contracts.
Kubilius warns the company of the consequences of failing to fulfill the contract signed with European countries.
Kubilius hopes Starlink understands what it means to breach a contract signed with European countries. He warns that the company could lose trust, which could have a very negative impact on its ability to provide services to European countries and their citizens.
On October 14, a serious problem arose with the operation of Starlink terminals: Starshield terminals, the military version of the satellite communication system, stopped functioning normally while in motion. A speed limit of approximately 160 km/h was set, and when exceeded, the terminals lost connection. The restrictions also affected the operation of interceptor drones, which Ukrainian defenders use to shoot down Russian Shaheds.
The restrictions also made it more difficult to use mid-range strikes. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Elon Musk to correct the mistake, which could lead to casualties among Ukrainians. That same day, Russia launched one of its largest-scale attacks on Ukraine.
On the evening of October 14, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that communication quality at speeds up to 160 km/h had improved, but SpaceX was maintaining the 161 km/h limit. The Ministry also emphasized that it was continuing discussions with partners and SpaceX to ensure stable service conditions and prevent sudden restrictions. On October 24, RBC-Ukraine sources within the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the military Starlink service had resumed operation at speeds exceeding 161 km/h.
