Musk Sent 5,000 Starlink Terminals to Ukraine [Reading Science]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] It has been confirmed that Elon Musk's SpaceX, together with the U.S. government, has provided 5,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine.

According to space specialist media Space.com on the 8th, SpaceX, along with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has sent a total of 5,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine since February.

This measure was taken after Ukraine's ground internet network was partially paralyzed due to Russia's invasion on February 24. Ukraine publicly requested support from SpaceX. At that time, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, posted on his Twitter account on February 26, appealing to Musk: "While you are pioneering Mars, Russia is trying to take over Ukraine, and while you successfully launch rockets into space, Russian rockets are attacking Ukrainians," and requested, "Please support Starlink stations so that sane Russians can rise up."

In response, Musk activated the Starlink satellite internet service in the Ukraine region on February 27 and promised to provide terminals. Since then, a total of 5,000 Starlink terminals have been provided to Ukraine. Of these, about 3,667 units (worth approximately 10 million dollars) were donated by SpaceX, and the remaining 1,333 units were supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). France and Poland also helped transport these Starlink satellite terminals to Ukraine. Ukrainians used them to relay the horrors of war, including Russian attacks on civilians, to the world through social network services (SNS), contributing to the rise of anti-war sentiment.

SpaceX temporarily activated services and provided terminals when the communication network was paralyzed due to an underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga in the South Pacific last December. Musk has been preparing the Starlink satellite internet project since 2014 with the goal of enabling anyone, anywhere, to access ultra-high-speed internet. The pilot service began in early 2020, mainly in North America. Over 2,000 satellites have already been launched, with an additional 10,000 planned. Recently, prices were raised due to inflationary pressures. Starting May 21, Starlink's monthly subscription fee will increase by 11%, from $99 (about 120,000 KRW) to $110 per month. The terminal price will also rise 20%, from $499 to $599.

SpaceX recently signed a contract with the Philippine government, promising to introduce the service in Asia for the first time. Satellite internet is not only a means to expand internet coverage but also can be used to build quantum satellite communication networks capable of top-level security and ultra-high-speed data processing, as well as to commercialize Internet of Things technologies such as connected cars. Musk's rival, Jeff Bezos's Amazon, has also recently signed satellite launch contracts and officially entered the satellite internet service market. In South Korea, Hanwha Group made headlines by investing $300 million in the British satellite internet company OneWeb.