Starlink’s reliability problem leaves Ukraine with few easy substitutes
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service has played a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion for years.
But Ars Technica reports that it has become increasingly unreliable because of Musk’s political inclinations and the latest surprise disruptions in Ukraine; Ukrainians and Europe are now facing urgent questions about how to move forward without it.
The head of hardware R&D at the Ukrainian defense company BlueBird Tech, speaking anonymously to Ars for security reasons, says Starlink has some of the best satellite coverage available and virtually no competitors when cost, availability and ease of use are combined; the main practical limitation, the person says, is positioning the antenna to receive signals from the satellites.
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The striking part is that reliability itself has become political: Ars attributes the service’s growing unreliability to Musk’s political inclinations as well as surprise disruptions.
And the substitute problem is not just about coverage: BlueBird Tech’s hardware R&D head says Starlink has virtually no competitors once cost, availability and ease of use are considered together.