In the Sahara Desert or in the jungles of the Amazon, in the most remote parts of the Pacific Ocean or in the eternal ice of the Arctic - in a number of regions of the world, modern man feels a big problem. There is no access to the internet.
That was exactly the original idea of the American billionaire Elon Musk - he developed "Starlink" to solve this problem - to provide fast internet anywhere in the world - and especially in regions where the connection cannot be provided in the conventional way - via cable or fiber optic cable.
Meanwhile, the scope of "Starlink" has been significantly expanded - The system is used for communication in disaster-stricken regions, but also by armies and protest movements where the usual internet does not work or has been cut off by dictatorial regimes.
How does "Starlink" work?
In this case, it is an internet connection system that relies on 10,000 small satellites around the Earth. They forward data packets to each other via laser contacts, without depending on a constant direct connection to a ground station that would connect the satellite system to the conventional internet.
Unlike other internet satellites, which orbit at an altitude of around 36,000 km, the "Starlink" satellites are only 550 km above the Earth's surface. This allows internet signals to be transmitted much faster, with minimal latency, allowing for the use of applications with larger data volumes.
Users only need a small receiving terminal with an electronically steerable antenna that automatically points to the nearest satellite. The terminals then transmit the received signal to a nearby router, which provides internet connectivity in the local network.
What are the key locations where "Starlink" is being used?
Ukraine: Since the beginning of the Russian aggression in February 2022, "Starlink" has become one of the most important communication tools in war zones. The military uses the system to coordinate the actions of units, to guide drones, and to control unmanned ground systems. In the civilian sector, the system is used by hospitals, rescue services, energy supply and Ukrainian railways.
The Russian military is also believed to be illegally using "Starlink" with the help of smuggled technology from third countries. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said it was working closely with SpaceX to limit this use as much as possible.
Sudan: In the Sudanese civil war, "Starlink" is mainly used by the RSF paramilitary forces fighting against the government army. Hundreds of devices have been imported into the country via the UAE, and there is also a black market for "Starlink" terminals. RSF uses them to communicate and coordinate the actions of its militias, while the state army tries to block their import and use.
Iran: In early 2026, there were nationwide protests against the regime in Tehran, which responded with brutal violence and an internet shutdown. There are reports that thousands of terminals were smuggled into the country and resold on the black market. Thanks to this, the protest movement was able to use "Starlink" to coordinate some of its actions despite the state-imposed censorship of the internet.
Venezuela: In the past, the "Starlink" system was used to overcome information barriers and access the free internet. For a long time, the possibility of acquiring the devices was only unofficial, but after the US intervention in January 2026, which captured former President Maduro, Elon Musk offered citizens temporary free access to the Internet.
Gaza: Since July 2024, "Starlink" has been used for humanitarian purposes in the almost destroyed Gaza Strip. Aid organizations and a field hospital use the system to provide telemedical assistance and for logistics purposes. However, civilians do not have wide access to "Starlink" due to security concerns on the Israeli side.
What are the criticisms of "Starlink"?
In conflict zones, "Starlink" is often the only source of Internet, and this provides Elon Musk with great influence. Sometimes, the communications of an entire army or entire support organization depend on his company SpaceX. For example, in the past, Musk denied Ukraine the use of the service for a planned attack near Crimea. US President Donald Trump has also threatened Ukraine with shutting down satellites to force Kiev to make concessions in negotiations.
There are also criticisms from an environmental perspective. The "Starlink" satellites are mass-produced and have a service life of only five years. An average of one or two satellites burn up in the Earth's atmosphere every day, and the aluminum oxide released in this way has a negative impact on the ozone hole and can contribute to global warming. In addition, the numerous satellites reflect sunlight, as a result of which the night sky becomes brighter, which is a problem for a number of animal species.
What alternatives are being developed
In order to put an end to the "Starlink" monopoly, work is already underway in Europe to prepare its alternatives. SpaceX's biggest competitor at the moment is Eutelsat. However, this system currently has only 600 satellites, and it focuses on business customers and maritime targets. Eutelsat is also involved in the development of IRIS, the EU's ambitious and extremely secure satellite network. It should ensure Europe's independence from "Starlink", but it will not be put into operation before 2029.
Elon Musk is also threatened by competition in the US, from his fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos. His company Amazon is actively working on the "Amazon Leo" project: a network of over 3,000 new satellites not far from the Earth's surface. Amazon wants to launch the service this year in the US, but also in Germany.
China, for its part, is working on two projects in this area: the state-owned "Guowand", intended for national and military purposes, which will include up to 13,000 satellites, and the private "Qianfan" with 12,000 - to serve developing and rapidly developing countries. Both projects are scheduled to launch this year.
Author: Thomas Lachan