SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet is changing global connectivity, allowing for remote areas to access high speed internet, including war zones such as Ukraine.
Back in March, after SpaceX Starlink was enabled for Ukraine, Elon Musk warned only to use the service “when needed and place antenna away as far away from people as possible.”
Now, we’re seeing a screenshot of what this SpaceX warning reads when attempting to use Starlink in “conflict areas”. A screenshot was shared on Reddit that shows the following message: “Caution is advised while using Starlink in conflict areas.”
The message continues to advise “best practices”, such as only using the antenna when necessary and “regularly moving location(s) when in-use.” The heat signature from the Starlink satellite dish can be picked up, thusly locating someone using the internet service.
SpaceX also advises “installing the antenna away from people and sensitive locations.”
As of July 25, Ukraine had over 12,000 Starlink dishes available, according to Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov. The nation had also tested using Starlink while driving at speeds of 130 km/h.
Earlier this week, Fedorov announced 5,000 more Starlink dishes were donated to Ukraine from Poland, and this will help “critical infrastructure, emergency services, [and] local authorities.”
New batch of Starlinks has arrived. 5K Starlinks to support Ukrainian critical infrastructure, emergency services, local authorities. Dziękuję, Poland! @jciesz @CyfryzacjaKPRM pic.twitter.com/yQxBzbLetx
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) August 22, 2022
That donation from Poland makes for a number of at least 17,000 Starlink dishes in Ukraine.
SpaceX and T-Mobile this week announced a global cellphone service is coming in 2023, when second-gen Starlink satellites reach lower-Earth orbit. This would allow for connectivity anywhere on Earth, with just a mobile phone, for messaging and phone calls to start, with limited data speeds to follow.
When this service begins, it would allow for anyone with a smartphone to have cell service, even if local cell towers have been damaged due to war or weather. Musk said the game-changing service will ultimately save lives for those seeking emergency assistance in remote areas that typically would have no cell signals.
Eventually (2-3 years?) internet connections will be available from every square inch on earth and the only way to stop it will be to blow them out of the sky and with 30,000 to 40,000 satellites up there that could prove to be a rather difficult and expensive task. Bravo SpaceX.
IMO, every US county and state government, should have at least one Starlink dish system (probably an RV system) for emergencies .First responder teams that work in rural/remote areas should have one too.
Completely agree. True redundancy!