SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
Musk activated Starlink, its satellite broadband service, in Ukraine in late February after internet services were disrupted by the Russian invasion. Since then, SpaceX has given it thousands of terminals.
Starlink was a key communication tool for the Ukrainian forces in their fight against the Russian forces.
An adviser to the Ukrainian president said on Friday that Kyiv would find a solution to keep Starlink internet service running in Ukraine. And Mikhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, supported him on Telegram.
“Starlink stations were up and running and will be up and running. Don’t worry,” he wrote, adding a smiley face emoji at the end.
loading
Ukraine said this week that Starlink services helped restore energy and communications infrastructure in sensitive areas after more than 100 attacks by Russian cruise missiles.
Musk drew widespread criticism from Ukrainians over his peace plan in which he suggested that Ukraine permanently cede Crimea to Russia, that new UN-sponsored referendums be held to determine the fate of Russian-controlled territories, and that Ukraine agree to neutrality.
Ukraine says it will never agree to cede territories captured by force, and legal referendums cannot be held in occupied territories where many people have been killed or expelled.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was among those who criticized Musk’s proposal.
Ukraine’s outgoing ambassador to Germany, Andrei Melnik, also condemned the plan in a tweet that told Musk in profanity to leave.
Ukraine relied on Starlink for communications after a series of Russian missile attacks.attributed to him:GT
Musk, responding to a post referring to the fate of the Starlink service and the ambassador’s note, said:
“We just follow his recommendation.”
US Republican Representative Adam Kingzinger cited Musk’s comments on Twitter, writing: “If there is ever evidence that elonmusk plays these games this is it. I’m not sure someone like that can be trusted anymore to do business with our government.”
Although it is very expensive to deploy, satellite technology like Starlink can provide internet to people who live in rural areas or hard-to-serve areas where fiber optic cables and cell towers don’t reach. Technology can also be an important pillar when natural disasters disrupt communications.
Reuters
Get a direct note from our foreigner correspondents About what’s making headlines around the world. Subscribe to the weekly What in the World newsletter here.
Originally published at Melbourne News Vine
No comments:
Post a Comment