The EU is in conversations with four European satellite companies (a Spanish) capable of providing a eventual replacement to Starlink operations in Ukraine. The deterioration of relations between Washington and kyiv (including Trump’s shameful enclosure to Zelensky in the White House), together with the growing transatlantic tensions by tariffs, are behind a strategy that must boost European technological sovereignty.
Starlink deployment in Ukraine, Elon Musk’s satellite network, has provided a vital communications system for Ukraine since the large -scale invasion of Russia began in 2022. It allows its armed forces to coordinate drones attacks, identify objectives and transmit data from the battlefield to the troops in the field in real time.
However, European leaders are increasingly concerned about Starlink dependencefears fanned by a Reuters report indicating that US officials had threatened to cut the system if the country did not meet their demands to share their minerals. Elon Musk, Executive Director of Spacex, Starlink parent company, refuted those statements.
This situation has raised doubts about the implications for the security that Ukraine and Europe in general, depend on a single private network whose director has direct links with the Trump administration (a shadow minister) and is so unreliable.
Alternatives to Starlink in Ukraine
Conversations with European companies For a possible replacement The head of all is already underway is the Franco-British satellite supplier Etelsat. His CEO, has confirmed that the company was in conversations with the EU about the expansion of its Internet service to Ukraine and also with Italy, whose government is debating intensely if you choose Starlink to provide encrypted communications for government officials.
Three other companies – the British Imarsat, the Luxembourgers Ses and the Spanish Hisdesat – have confirmed that they were negotiating with EU governments and institutions on how to provide backup connectivity to Ukraine. Although it would not be easy in the short term to replace the Starlink service in Ukraine, since it is by far the largest satellite communications provider, with more than 7,000 probes in low orbit and 40,000 terminals on land only in Ukraine, the conflict situation once Trump is landed in the White House, requires that Europe seek greater independence in critical sectors like this.
It is not clear if a European support service would include one or more operators. Ores or only one. From Eutelsat it is ensured that it could match the number of Starlink terminals in Ukraine “Probably in a couple of months”. In any case, these four companies probably represent the best option for Europe of «break links with the Musk company and put the satellite communications of the old continent in better hands«as they even say American media critical to the procedure of the administration of their country.
In the longest term, the solution for Europe will arrive from Iris, a great public-private project to create a European space internet with technical characteristics similar to Starlink, but Musk and Trump independent.
