On the ground in Ukraine’s largest Starlink repair shop
1 min read
Summary
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has highlighted the importance of reliable communication channels for troops on the ground.
Starlink, a satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is widely used by the Ukrainian military and has become a vital support system.
But its future availability in Ukraine is uncertain due to its reliance on the increasingly erratic foreign policy of Musk and SpaceX.
An informal community of Ukrainian engineers and volunteers called Narodnyi Starlink is keeping the service functioning.
The community repairs the many faulty terminals, which are used in rough field conditions, and also develops new tools to improve functionality.
The Ukrainian military is also working to develop its own satellite communications system to avoid over reliance on Starlink.