According to CNN, Ukraine’s military had a partial internet outage as recently as October 24th, when 1,300 Starlink terminals went down owing to a financial deficit. The outage happened during continuing discussions between SpaceX and the Department of Defense, despite Elon Musk’s statement that his business will continue to pay for the country’s Starlink use.
In September, SpaceX wrote to the Pentagon, requesting that the Defense Department assume responsibility for covering expenditures linked to Ukraine’s use of its Starlink internet service. Following public criticism, Musk seemed to backtrack on his intention to seek aid from the US government on October 15th.
According to CNN, the outage last month posed a “major difficulty” for Ukraine’s military. The nation bought the 1,300 terminals from a British corporation in March. According to reports, SpaceX paid Ukraine $2,500 per month to maintain each unit operating. The government finally became unable to pay the $3.25 million monthly cost and requested financial assistance from the British Ministry of Defence. Following considerable debate, the two decided to prioritise other military costs.
If SpaceX and the US Department of Defense reach a deal, it’s unclear if the Pentagon would gain more authority over Starlink service in Ukraine. The business is presently deciding where Ukrainian soldiers will be able to utilize the terminals.
