In a show of good faith to the Ukrainian government, Elon Musk has stated that SpaceX will not be shutting off its Starlink satellite internet service even if the company does not receive funding from the United States Defense Department.
This pledge comes as a relief to Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, who has been a vocal supporter of SpaceX and Starlink.
Starlink is a key player in providing telecommunication services in Ukraine, which has been embroiled in conflict in recent years. The service has only been active in the country for less than a year, but it has already made a significant impact. Last spring, SpaceX began delivering terminals for the satellite internet service to Kyiv. These terminals have allowed the city to stay connected despite hostile conditions.
Musk’s tweet came in response to questions about whether or not the United States government would continue to fund SpaceX’s efforts in Ukraine. The Defense Department has been a key supporter of SpaceX, but it has yet to make a decision about continued funding.
While it remains to be seen whether or not the Defense Department will provide more funding for SpaceX, one thing is certain: Starlink will remain operational in Ukraine regardless of what happens.
Thanks to Musk’s commitment, Kyiv and other parts of the country will be able to stay connected no matter what.
Elon Musk has pledged that SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service will remain active in Ukraine regardless of whether or not the company receives additional funding from the United States Defense Department.
This is good news for Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, who has been a vocal supporter of both SpaceX and Starlink.
The service has only been operational in Ukraine for a little over six months, but it has already made a big impact by helping Kyiv stay connected despite hostile conditions.