The European Union is considering paying for Starlink’s satellite services in Ukraine after SpaceX asked the Pentagon to cover the cost of those services. The EU is concerned that SpaceX could suddenly cut off the service, which would affect wartime communications for the Ukrainian military. European Union (EU) Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell raised the issue at an EU meeting on Monday. Discussions are still in the early stages.
Starlink operations in Ukraine have already cost SpaceX $80 million and will exceed $100 million by the end of the year, Elon Musk said. satellite Internet will cost nearly $400 million in 2023.
In a post on Twitter, Elon Musk said that of the 25,300 terminals sent to Ukraine, only 10,630 are paying for the service.
Yesterday, however, Elon Musk confirmed that SpaceX will continue to fund operations in Ukraine, despite the fact that Starlink is losing money. There are concerns within the EU that Elon Musk could still cut off service.
“For the moment, let’s be happy that he’s paying for it. But we need to be safe,” an EU official told the Financial Times, “and the Ukrainians are very worried that he will still cut it off.”
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told Politico that Ukraine’s Internet access should not remain in the hands of a “superpower” who could “wake up one day and say, ‘This is no longer what I want to do anymore, so be it. And the next day, Ukrainians may find themselves without the Internet. I think that might be a better way, as a contractual agreement, for example, that a coalition of countries could buy a service from Mr. Elon Musk, the Starlink service, and then offer it to the Ukrainians and continue.”
A formal contract would obligate SpaceX to provide the service in Ukraine. These discussions also come amid reports from Kiev of Starlink equipment being down on the front lines in recent weeks.
The EU is also exploring other satellite connectivity options. The Pentagon disclosed it is in talks with SpaceX about funding the service, while also exploring other alternatives.
