Presidential adviser says Ukraine is in talks to lift speed limit on military satellite network
A speed cap on moving terminals disrupted some battlefield communications as Kyiv sought clarification from SpaceX and the Pentagon.
TL;DR
- A Ukrainian presidential adviser said Kyiv was discussing removal of speed restrictions on military satellite service with SpaceX and the U.S. Department of Defense.
- The Associated Press and Reuters reported that connectivity limits on fast-moving terminals affected drone operations and communications near the front.
- The reason for the restriction, its full scope and the outcome of Ukraine’s request had not been made public.
Ukraine is discussing removal of speed limits applied to military satellite communications with SpaceX and the U.S. Department of Defense, a presidential adviser said. The Associated Press reported that a restriction introduced Thursday could slow or block service to terminals moving faster than 160 km/h. [1] [2]
Reuters separately described frontline units reporting interruptions in communications with headquarters and difficulty sharing operational information. Both outlets said the restrictions affected drone operations or other rapidly moving military terminals. [1] [2]
President Donald Trump said the White House had not ordered the restriction, but the public reporting did not establish who changed the service settings or why. SpaceX had not provided a detailed public explanation of the policy. [1] [2]
It remained unclear whether the requested change would be made, whether the limit applied to all users, or how the measure related to military Starshield service versus commercial Starlink. The episode highlights Ukraine’s reliance on a privately operated communications network, while leaving the operational and policy details unresolved. [1] [2]
Why it matters
The episode shows how battlefield communications can depend on decisions by a private network operator. The scope and rationale of the restriction, and the result of Kyiv’s discussions, remain unclear.
Editor's note
Attributes the reported operational effects to AP and Reuters and leaves the cause and scope of the service change unresolved.