If Ukraine Loses Starlink, Here Are the Best Alternatives

For years, Ukrainian officials have hinted that they are working on Starlink alternatives. But the truth is, there aren’t many options on the table. The one most discussed is OneWeb, a satellite communications network owned by Eutelsat, a satellite operator in France. Like Starlink, this network relies on small, ground-based terminals, and its total constellation includes around 630 low-Earth-orbit satellites, which offer very high-speed connectivity and lower latency than satellites that orbit at higher altitudes. Joanna Darlington, a spokeswoman for Eutelsat, says that OneWeb offers Europe-wide coverage and that the technology is already deployed in Ukraine to some extent, though she declined to share details. Still, there are more than 40,000 Starlink terminals in Ukraine, according to reports, so replacing that network with OneWeb alternatives cannot be done overnight. “It’s possible but it’s not instant coffee,” says Darlington. (The firm claims Eutelsat’s OneWeb coverage in Eur ... Read full article.