A global race to build independent satellite internet networks has intensified. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, admitted on the 24th (local time) that he blocked Ukrainian military drones from accessing the company’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet service, Starlink. This incident has once again exposed the vulnerability of relying on specific corporations and foreign governments for critical battlefield communication networks.
The Ukrainian military relied on Starlink to wage war after its tactical communication networks collapsed following Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Consequently, this event has significantly accelerated national satellite internet projects worldwide. Not only China and Russia but also allies like the European Union and Canada have long been working to secure their own satellite networks for defense and security. However, catching up with Starlink’s dominance—from satellite production to launches—remains challenging.
◇Starlink Deciding War Outcomes
SpaceX provides civilian and commercial Starlink services, as well as government and military-focused ‘Starshield.’ Ukraine currently uses both. However, contrary to Musk’s claims, the access restrictions also applied to Starshield. As a result, terminals moving faster than 100 miles per hour (approximately 160 km/h) began losing connectivity in Ukraine from the night of the 13th to the 14th. This targeted fast-flying drones.
The Ukrainian military stated, “These restrictions, imposed without prior notice, disrupted several operations.” Some drones lost communication with operators and crashed. Notably, the inability to use interception drones caused significant damage. Russia’s jet-engine drones reach speeds of up to 370 km/h.
A dispute over responsibility for the Starshield access restrictions also emerged. Musk claimed, “The service is owned and controlled by the U.S. government,” while the Trump administration denied instructing the restrictions. Reports were conflicting: The Wall Street Journal stated, “Musk directly ordered the restrictions,” while Reuters reported, “The directive came from within the White House.”
Currently, all access restrictions have been lifted. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced on the 24th, “Starlink and Starshield are now stably connected even at terminal speeds exceeding 400 km/h.” However, they refuted Musk’s claims, stating, “We do not use civilian Starlink for long-range attack drones.”
◇Nations Pursuing Independent Satellite Networks
Experts argue, “This incident blatantly revealed the risks of military infrastructure dependence on specific private companies.” Musk is aware of this. In March last year, he stated, “If Starlink is turned off, the entire Ukrainian frontline will collapse,” and “Starlink will never be used as a bargaining chip against Ukraine.”
In modern warfare, satellite communication is a core strategic asset. Connectivity with satellites is essential for drone control and information exchange in areas where ground networks are destroyed. Nations worldwide are accelerating plans to build their own satellite networks. The goal is to secure low-Earth orbit satellite networks sufficient for defense, security, and emergency response.
Ukraine signed a memorandum of intent on the 22nd with Finnish satellite company ICEYE and communications equipment firm Nokia to secure independent satellite communication capabilities. The European Union (EU) is building ‘Iris²,’ an independent satellite network of 348 satellites utilizing low- and medium-Earth orbits, at a cost of 17.5 billion dollars (approximately 23.2 trillion Korean won). Canada is advancing the ‘Lightspeed’ project, a network of 225 satellites through satellite communications company Telesat.
China has been pursuing ‘Qianfan’ (approximately 15,000 satellites) and ‘Guowang’ (approximately 13,000 satellites) since the early 2020s. Over 200 satellites are already in orbit. Russia plans to deploy ‘Rasputin,’ a network of approximately 900 satellites, by 2035. South Korea aims to establish a low-Earth orbit satellite communication network of up to 512 satellites by 2035.
However, replacing Starlink in the short term remains difficult. Starlink has launched approximately 13,000 satellites and operates over 11,000. Since national satellite launches often rely on SpaceX rockets, Starlink’s dominance is expected to continue. Tom Widdrington, a researcher at the UK Royal Army Institute of Military History, stated, “No single technology will replace Starlink,” and “Combining multiple technologies will take considerable time.”
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