SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk says the company's Starlink satellite broadband service is available in Ukraine and SpaceX is sending more terminals to the country whose internet has been disrupted by the Russian invasion, according to REUTERS.
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. There will be more terminals on the way,” Musk tweeted on Saturday.
He responded to a tweet from a Ukrainian government official who asked Musk to provide the affected country with Starlink stations.
“@elonmusk, while you are trying to colonize Mars, Russia is trying to occupy Ukraine! While your missiles are successfully landing from space, Russian missiles are attacking Ukrainian civilians!” This was announced on Twitter by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Mikhail Fedorov.
Internet connectivity in Ukraine has suffered due to Russian incursions, especially in the southern and eastern parts of the country, where fighting has been the heaviest, internet monitors reported on Saturday.
Although it is costly to deploy satellite technology, it can provide Internet access for people living in rural areas or in hard-to-reach places where there is no access to fiber optic cables and cell towers. This technology can also be an important support when hurricanes or other natural disasters disrupt communications.
Musk says SpaceX has 1,469 active Starlink satellites and 272 will soon enter operational orbits.
