What is Starlink, who is behind it and what does it do?

On October 24, 2026, Ukraine said Starlink and the military system Starshield were again maintaining stable connections at speeds above 400 kilometres per hour. This followed more than a week in which Ukrainian officials said restrictions had disrupted military communications and drone operations. The episode raised a basic question: who has power over an internet connection when a country or military depends on it?

Starlink is the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, Elon Musk's aerospace company. It provides internet in places where fibre and mobile networks are missing or difficult to build. For households, that is practical. For governments and military forces, it also creates a strategic dependency.

Starlink brings internet to places cables cannot reach

Starlink uses thousands of satellites moving in low orbit around Earth. A dish at the user's location connects to a satellite. The satellite routes data to a ground station or forwards it through other satellites. This means a fibre cable does not need to reach the building.

Traditional satellite services often use satellites about 35,786 kilometres above Earth. Starlink satellites fly much lower, usually a few hundred kilometres above the surface. The signal therefore travels a shorter distance. This reduces latency, the delay in a connection's response. Latency affects how quickly a connection reacts during a video call, an online game or when opening a website.

Starlink can support remote work, streaming and video calls. It is especially useful in rural areas, on ships, in aircraft and in places where a disaster has damaged the fixed network. Emergency services can also use it to stay connected when local mobile towers fail.

What does that mean? Starlink does not replace fibre everywhere. In cities, a fixed connection is often cheaper and more stable. But on a remote farm or a ship, a satellite connection can provide internet where few alternatives exist.

Users still need a dish, electricity and a clear view of the sky. Trees, buildings and poor placement can obstruct the signal. Speed and availability can also vary depending on location, network congestion and the subscription plan.

SpaceX and Elon Musk control Starlink

Starlink is part of SpaceX, the American aerospace company that builds and launches rockets. Elon Musk leads SpaceX and is the best known person behind the business. SpaceX builds and operates the satellites and uses its own rockets to place new ones in orbit.

This gives the company a practical advantage. It does not need to hire another launch provider for every mission. It can organise much of the network's expansion itself. Starlink's official explanation also says that satellites can communicate with one another through lasers, allowing data to travel through space.

That control also has a downside. SpaceX operates much of the technology customers depend on. Access to the service also depends on licences, local rules and contract terms. Military use involves agreements with governments as well.

For an ordinary user, this is usually invisible. You pay for a subscription and expect the internet to work. But when a military uses the connection to coordinate units at the front or control drones, decisions by the provider become far more sensitive.

Events in Ukraine exposed the dependency

Restrictions affecting Starlink and Starshield in Ukraine made headlines in October 2026. Ukrainian officials said the restrictions disrupted communications at the front and the use of certain drones. On October 24, Ukraine's defence minister said measured speeds had returned to above 400 kilometres per hour and that the connection was stable. The ministry did not say that every restriction had been fully removed.

Starlink and Starshield are related, but they are not the same. Starlink is the commercial internet service for consumers and businesses. Starshield is intended for government and military use. The systems use related technology but have different customers and terms of use.

There was also disagreement about the cause of the restrictions. Reuters reported that sources traced the order to restrict Starshield to the White House. Elon Musk and the US government publicly pointed to each other as the party with authority to set the restrictions. The exact division of responsibility remained disputed.

On October 22, 2026, US Senator Richard Blumenthal announced an inquiry into the US Department of Defense's dependence on SpaceX and the decisions surrounding the restrictions. The inquiry is intended to seek answers. It is not a final ruling on who was responsible.

Watch out: The restrictions on Starshield do not prove that ordinary Starlink customers in Europe face the same problems. The military system has different uses and terms. The broader lesson is that anyone relying on a single provider for essential communications is also exposed to that provider's decisions.

Starlink helps consumers, businesses and emergency services

For people in rural areas, Starlink can mean the difference between having a usable connection and having little internet access. A business owner can work from home, children can follow online lessons and families can make video calls. At sea and in aircraft, the service can provide connectivity where mobile networks do not work.

Businesses also use satellite internet at construction sites, on farms, in mines and in transport. After a flood or storm, it can help restore communications when cables and mobile towers are damaged. The equipment still needs power, but the connection does not have to run through the same local infrastructure affected by the disaster.

Still, Starlink does not suit every situation. The equipment costs money, and there is a monthly subscription on top. In areas with good fibre coverage, a fixed connection is often cheaper. Many users also share the network's capacity, so performance can vary by location and time.

Anyone considering the service should therefore look beyond the advertised maximum speed. Total costs, a clear view of the sky, coverage and the availability of alternatives matter just as much.

The figures show how large Starlink has become

The financial figures show that Starlink has become a major SpaceX business. According to quarterly results filed by SpaceX with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Starlink had 13.6 million consumer subscribers on September 30, 2026. A year earlier, the figure was 7.2 million.

In the third quarter of 2026, SpaceX's connectivity business, which includes Starlink, generated about 5.2 billion dollars in revenue. That was 69 percent more than in the same quarter a year earlier. This revenue includes more than consumer subscriptions. Businesses and governments also pay for connectivity.

At the same time, average monthly revenue per consumer subscriber fell. In the third quarter of 2026, it was 69 dollars, compared with 83 dollars a year earlier. SpaceX attributes growth partly to more subscribers and expansion into new markets, where cheaper subscription plans are also available.

The figures show a growing customer base and rising revenue. They do not automatically reveal what the company will be worth in the future. Satellite costs, launches, maintenance, competition and regulation also matter. SpaceX is also more than Starlink alone, with other business activities.

Control over a network makes alternatives important

Starlink provides internet in places where other connections fall short. That is useful for households, businesses and emergency services. The situation in Ukraine also shows why availability alone is not enough when judging a communications network.

Governments and businesses need to know who operates the service, what the contract terms say and what happens if access is restricted. A second provider or another form of communication may matter in critical situations. Alternatives are not always as fast or affordable, but dependence without a backup plan carries its own risks.

For European users, Starlink is both a practical internet service and an example of the influence a private technology company can have. The technology connects people over long distances. Control over that technology remains with the provider and is also shaped by contracts and governments.

Read more about the recent political debate in US threatens Europe over Starlink restrictions.

Ask these questions before choosing Starlink

• Is fibre or mobile internet cheaper and more stable at your location?
• What is the combined cost of the dish, installation and monthly subscription?
• Is there a clear view of the sky and enough electricity for the equipment?
• What terms apply when using the service while travelling or at another location?
• What alternative connection is available if Starlink fails?

This article is for educational purposes and is not financial advice.

Sources

• Starlink, What is Starlink?, official explanation
• Starlink, Satellite Technology, official technical explanation
• Reuters, Ukraine says Starlink and Starshield operating at 400 kph after week of throttling, October 24, 2026
• US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressional Inquiry into Starlink and Starshield, October 22, 2026
• SpaceX, Third Quarter 2026 Results, official quarterly figures filed with the SEC
• BitFox, US threatens Europe over Starlink restrictions, October 19, 2026