SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet has been keeping at least 150,000 Ukrainians connected daily as they remain to live in the war-torn European country. A Ukrainian government official revealed this data in a tweet last Monday.
(Photo : ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
A mock up of the Crew Dragon spacecraft is displayed during a media tour of SpaceX headquarters and rocket factory on August 13, 2018 in Hawthorne, California.
"Ukraine will Stay Connected No Matter What"
The Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov posted on Twitter that Starlink's help has been significant to Ukrainians ever since the invasion.
Rough data on Starlink's usage: around 150K active users per day. This is crucial support for Ukraine's infrastructure and restoring the destroyed territories. Ukraine will stay connected no matter what. pic.twitter.com/XWjyxPQJyX
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) May 2, 2022
"This is crucial support for Ukraine's infrastructure and restoring the destroyed territories," Fedorov, who also serves as the nation's minister of digital transformation wrote.
He also added, "Ukraine will stay connected no matter what."
Elon Musk's internet service consists of a network of about 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, this was built to deliver high-speed internet wherever the user is located.
The company also revealed in March they have about 250,000 total Starlink subscribers, including both consumers and enterprise customers.
It is, however, worth noting that the daily active user count is not similar to the total number of subscribers or Starlink terminals in Ukraine, since various users would be able to connect to each of these terminals.
NBC News reported last week that there are over 10,000 Starlink terminals, which are also known as dishes or antennae, that are providing internet services in Ukraine.
Last month, the United States Agency for International Development revealed on CNBC that there is "a range of stakeholders" who contributed over $15 million worth in transportation services, hardware, and other equipment to deliver 5,000 Starlink terminals.
The Agency added that USAID also procured 1,333 terminals from SpaceX
Back in March, Elon Musk delivered an on-the-go charging option for Starlink satellites and terminals to address issues on power supply, particularly with the disrupted power circulation that it encountered during that time.
Learn from Musk - Pentagon
Ukraine has been at the forefront of receiving Russian cyberattacks, facing online disinformation, internet disruptions, and other issues.
Before Elon Musk sent his Starlink terminals in February, he was already aware of the possible cyberattacks that might ensue.
When attacks were attempted to jam the Starlink satellites with electromagnetic attacks, SpaceX was able to reconnect its CubeSats shortly after only using a single line of code. Hence, the Pentagon suggested that the US must learn from Musk in taking down cyberattacks.
With this anti-cyber attack measure, Starlink continues to provide internet services to Ukrainians and operate without any interruptions.
Shortly after the invasion in February, Fedorov grabbed Musk's attention through his tweet asking the billionaire for assistance after a suspected cyberattack disrupted their satellite internet services.
Musk responded by sending several terminals to the country days after the invasion, and he reminded Ukrainians to be cautious in using their services for possible cyberattacks.
Related Article: Starlink Satellites Serves as a Salvation for Ukrainians Without Internet Connection
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
