EU plots replacement for Starlink in Ukraine skies
The European Union is preparing to replace Starlink in Ukraine by offering the Govsatcom and IRIS² systems.
The European Union is stepping up its efforts to replace the Starlink system in Ukraine if necessary. According to Defence Express, a temporary satellite system, Govsatcom, is planned to be launched this year. This system will make use of existing European military and commercial satellites.
Reuters reports that following a tense meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, American negotiators indicated to Ukraine that they might block access to the Starlink network, which Elon Musk's SpaceX owns. Musk himself, who is also head of the American Government Efficiency Department, denies these claims and accuses the news agency of slander.
Govsatcom as a temporary solution; IRIS² as the intended long-term alternative
Although Govsatcom does not include the launch of new satellites, it is expected to provide basic connectivity. However, the existing satellites may not match Starlink's speed and power, potentially limiting their effectiveness. Despite this, Govsatcom could serve as a useful temporary solution.
The IRIS² system is ultimately intended to become a comprehensive successor to Starlink. Plans are in place to create a new constellation of satellites with greater power, with the project expected to be realised by 2030.
In addition to Govsatcom and IRIS², other systems could potentially replace Starlink, such as Eutelsat, Hispasat, SES, or OneWeb. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing for potential disconnection from Starlink, and many experts believe it is likely that Elon Musk will proceed with this action.
