Starlink restrictions disrupt Ukrainian troops’ battlefield communications as internet speeds plunge – CNBC TV18

For one artillery unit fighting in eastern Ukraine, the US decision this week to reduce services provided by satellite company Starlink to the military had an immediate impact.

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Communications with headquarters were interrupted and internet speeds dropped, posing risks in a war where drones present a constant danger and up-to-date information on targets and threats can make the difference between life and death.

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”Immediately after the announcement that the connection with Starlink was deteriorating, it really did have a negative impact,” said Ukrlan, a 28-year-old serving with an artillery unit of the Special Rifle Police Battalion.

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He asked to be identified only by his callsign, in keeping with Ukrainian military practice.

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”We felt it straight away,” he told Reuters from his bunker near the front line in the fiercely contested region of Donbas.

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”The internet speed at our position had deteriorated significantly and communication with our headquarters and our command had deteriorated significantly.”

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Also read: Microsoft's Brad Smith warns Green Card curbs could hurt US AI competitiveness

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According to officials, the White House issued an order to limit SpaceX’s Starshield satellite system used by Ukraine ​for battlefield communications and drone operations.

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Ukraine and its Western partners have decried the move…

Original source: https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/

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