Elon Musk claims not without pride that his satellite Internet is the “backbone of communications“ in Ukraine. This gives a private individual unusual power that is difficult to control, an expert says. Why is that?
With the help of carrier rockets, nearly 6,000 satellites have been launched into orbit, which provide Internet in 70 countries, even in the most remote corners of the world. This requires a receiver that looks like a pizza box, as described by the reporter for the “Wall Street Journal” Thomas Grove.
The corporate site of “Starlink“ shows some positive examples of the use of satellite internet: for example, when after a severe flood in Rwanda, students use it for their computers at school.
Satellite Internet is available even in the most inaccessible areas of the world for a certain fee: between 120 and 5,000 dollars per month - depending on the speed and volume of mobile data, writes the German public media ARD.
"Arbiter in the war against Ukraine"
Ukraine uses the “Starlink” satellite system. since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the German publication recalls. The head of the parent company, the American billionaire Elon Musk proudly claims that the system is “the backbone of communications” in the area of hostilities. Satellite internet plays an invaluable role especially for the reliable and precise use of drones. In October 2022, however, Musk announced that he no longer wished to pay for this service and effectively passed the bill to the US Department of Defense. This, in turn, has fueled the discussion about Musk's increased role in world affairs.
"This was a bit of an unusual situation because at the time this story broke, there was no agreement between Musk and the Pentagon to deploy the “Starlink” in Ukraine", says investigative journalist Ronan Farrow, quoted by ARD: "Elon Musk - that is, a private person from a private company - has de facto “ become a kind of arbiter of the outcome of this war. And the government found itself in a very unusual situation – to not be able to exercise control over a private individual that he suddenly depended on so much,' says Farrow.
Does Russia use "Starlink"?
In the meantime, reports have become more frequent that the Russian troops in the occupied territories of Ukraine are also using "Starlink", although the company itself claims that they do not work with the Russian government and army. Moscow also denies using US geostationary satellites. In this regard, ARD recalls that “Starlink“ not only is it not licensed in Russia, but it is officially banned there.
Reporters from the “Wall Street Journal” revealed how the Russian army could obtain the stations: through intermediaries who buy the terminals legally, and then provide them to Russia, ARD writes, again quoting the reporter of the American publication Thomas Grove. Allegedly, “Starlink“ is also used illegally by paramilitary groups in Sudan.
Why doesn't Musk turn off the system
According to Grove, the company can shut down the service because Sudan does not have a signed agreement to use the satellites. Through the so-called geofencing “Starlink“ it can also disable individual terminals from the system, but it does not, the investigative journalist claims, and accuses Musk's company of inconsistency.
According to him, the Pentagon is looking for a solution to the problem of illegal use of the satellite system. So far from “Starlink“ they do not give any information on this matter. One possible solution lies in the hands of the Ukrainian military – they could locate and destroy the "Starlink" terminals in question, ARD also states.