By: Josie Mills
Starlink in Ukraine
With the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, internet outages in Ukraine have been at an all time high. Some cities have been completely without internet, while many other places have spotty service due to the Russian invasion. These outages inhibit communication between Ukraine and other countries, thus blocking the flow of news, information, and resources. This issue must be solved - and fast.
Despite this taxing situation, there is a service that has the potential to provide some form of assistance during these trying times. A division of none other than Elon Musk’s SpaceX possesses technology that can greatly assist Ukraine with its internet outages. This division and technology is known as Starlink and thanks to a tweet from the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhalio Fedorov, Musk just sent two shipments of its services their way.
A Starlink antenna. Photo Source: https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-unveils-redesigned-second-gen-starlink-dish
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a division of SpaceX and the name of its satellite internet service. To operate the service, individuals receive a kit of necessary supplies and must download the Starlink app. The Starlink antenna must be mounted with a clear view of the sky to connect to the constellation of Starlink satellites orbiting Earth. This internet service differs from others in the sense that its satellites are in low orbit at 550km and thus have low latency, the time it takes for data to be transferred between people and the satellite. This makes the Starlink’s speed extremely high in comparison to other services, as most satellites orbit at 35,000km. Furthermore, since SpaceX owns its launching service, it can launch Starlink satellites at any time. This is groundbreaking in the sense that Starlink was able to respond to the situation in Ukraine almost instantaneously by launching satellites and sending the supplies necessary for citizens to maintain or regain internet connection free of charge.
The mission of Starlink is to connect individuals to the internet in areas that lack connection, and that’s exactly what they’re doing in Ukraine. According to Sensor Tower, downloads for the app to operate Starlink have been up 280% since Musk’s first shipment of Starlink equipment. On March 13 alone, the app was downloaded approximately 21,000 times and even topped the Ukrainian App Store’s charts. These downloads demonstrate Starlink’s vast availability in Ukraine and the willingness of many to utilize its services.
However, it is important to note that there are concerns about Russian tracking of Starlink antennas. Elon Musk himself warned that the connection should only be utilized in times of necessity and the antennas should be placed far away from people. This is sure to cause tension among citizens who do not feel comfortable having or being located near a Starlink antenna. The situation could be considered unethical, as individuals located near the antennas will likely not have a say in where they are put and could unintentionally be found in harm's way.
The Influence and Future of Starlink
It is apparent that Musk is ready to deploy Starlink for humanitarian crises at a moment’s notice. Having a technology such as Starlink which can be deployed quickly without government intervention or approval can significantly alter how private society reacts to world crises. Hopefully Musk’s intervention in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will influence other individuals to utilize their knowledge and influence to positively assist with crises around the world. Yet, Musk’s intervention can also begin a dangerous game for the world if private citizens negatively use their resources to influence crises. As for Starlink itself, it is likely that Musk will continue developing the technology and employing it in areas enduring crises. Therefore, it is my hope that he continues to meaningfully assist the world and influence others to do so as well. However, only time will tell how private society’s influence in global matters will impact the world - for better or for worse.
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