EU seeks alternatives to Elon Musk's Starlink amid growing concerns over service reliability for Ukraine's military communications.
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| EU officials are in talks to find a reliable replacement for Musk’s Starlink in Ukraine, fearing disruptions to military communication services amid Musk's criticism. Image: KI |
Kiev, Ukraine — April 8, 2025:
The European Union is actively exploring alternatives to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, as concerns over its reliability and potential disruption grow. Starlink has been a critical part of Ukraine’s military communications, with SpaceX donating over 40,000 satellite terminals to Ukraine since 2022. However, the EU's growing unease about Musk’s criticism of Ukraine’s war effort has sparked efforts to find a more stable solution.
According to Politico, the EU is in talks with companies like Eutelsat, a French-British satellite operator, to expand satellite coverage for Ukraine. Eutelsat’s CEO, Eva Berneke, confirmed these discussions, explaining that while the company could provide additional capacity, it currently lacks the scale to fully replace Starlink, which operates approximately 7,000 satellites compared to Eutelsat's 600. Despite this, the EU is determined to find a backup plan to avoid over-reliance on a private entity whose stance could change.
Starlink’s dominance in the satellite internet sector, with its low-Earth orbit satellites providing high-speed, low-latency connections, has made it the go-to choice for military coordination and battlefield communications. EU officials, led by European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, have confirmed that negotiations are underway, but replacing Starlink's robust infrastructure will be a significant challenge. As the EU continues its search for alternatives, experts warn that any delays could leave Ukraine vulnerable without a reliable communications network, especially as the conflict progresses.