Musk's "Emergency Shut-Off Switch": Why US Allies Are Looking for Alternatives to Starlink Satellites – WSJ

According to The Wall Street Journal, European countries are concerned about their dependence on a system with a built-in shutdown mechanism that allows SpaceX to suspend network operations without prior consultation.

European and Canadian alternatives are still lagging behind SpaceX

In light of the decision to restrict satellite communications for Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski addressed Elon Musk with a warning about the consequences of his actions. It is noted that Warsaw is one of those funding Ukraine’s use of Starlink.

“The more you engage in politics through your products, the more damage you do to your brand,”the Polish minister wrote.

The main problem for customers is the lack of a competitive alternative in the near future. The only European company capable of operating satellites in low Earth orbit is OneWeb, which is owned by the French conglomerate Eutelsat.

Currently, OneWeb operates approximately 650 satellites and plans to increase that number to about 1,300 by 2030. Starlink already has more than 11,000 satellites in orbitthe article states.

Furthermore, OneWeb’s technology is less suitable for use on the front lines due to its bulky, heavy, and power-hungry terminals. Switching from Starlink or its military version, Starshield, would require replacing thousands of terminals because of SpaceX’s proprietary technologies.

The Canadian satellite communications company Telesat has also unveiled the Lightspeed network, planning to launch the first of 288 satellites in December and bring the system online in early 2028.

Meanwhile, the European Union has signed a contract with Eutelsat and two other companies to create the sovereign IRIS² network of 348 satellites, costing approximately $17.5 billion. The first satellites are scheduled to launch in 2029.

However, the budgets of the European and Canadian initiatives are incomparable to the scale of SpaceX, whose market value is estimated at approximately $2 trillion.

The Situation with Starlink and Starshield in Ukraine

Previously, Ukraine had reported issues with the operation of Starlink and Starshield terminals due to speed limits while in motion. On October 24, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the restriction has been completely lifted, the systems had returned to standard operating parameters.

Uninterrupted access to satellite communications not only ensures coordination between units of the Armed Forces but also provides effective protection for Ukrainian territories against the jet-powered drones used by Russia in its attacks.