Elon Musk and his space exploration company, SpaceX, have activated Starlink connectivity and delivered several Starlink user terminals to Ukraine to assist citizens who may have had their internet disrupted as a result of the Russian invasion.
The countries vice-president, Mykhailo Fedorov, tweeted a plea to Musk over the weekend, with the billionaire responding that the service was activated on Saturday and that more terminals would be arriving.
Fedorov confirmed, via a tweet once again, that addiotional Starlink terminals had arrived in the country yesterday.
Starlink — here. Thanks, @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/dZbaYqWYCf
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 28, 2022
Starlink is a satellite constellation that aims to provide high-speed internet across the globe, as well bringing connectivity to people who are unable to gain reliable internet access.
It has about 2,000 satellites that operate in low-Earth orbit, roughly 340 miles above the Earth’s surface, and services 145,000 people in 25 countries as of this January, according to CNN.
SpaceX said that its connectivity had recently been used in Tonga, following the eruption of an underwater volcano in January, and was effective in providing internet access to remote villages on the island.
Satellite-based internet has the benefits of not being affected by any changes to on-ground infrastructures, such as damages caused by war, as well as reaching areas where the infrastructure has yet to be installed.
However, it traditionally has a reputation for spotty and slow connections.