Musk's clash with Ukraine accelerates demand for Starlink alternatives. Few exist

Elon Musk 's latest clash with Ukraine underscores the critical role that his company's Starlink satellite internet service has played in Kyiv's defense against Russia, which invaded unprovoked in 2022. It's also laid bare the downsides of depending on a single provider for satellite internet communications, though other options are not yet comparable to SpaceX's Starlink and its military-grade Starshield offering. On Oct. 14, Ukrainian officials accused SpaceX of undermining the country's ability to defend itself. SpaceX and the U.S., they said, had suddenly and without warning imposed speed limits on Starshield . SpaceX describes Starshield as a "secured satellite network for government entities" that "leverages Starlink technology.