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Swedish company Satcube has begun delivering its own satellite internet terminals to Ukraine, which closely resemble Elon Musk’s Starlink. However, according to the Swedish publication Dagens Nyheter, unlike Musk’s system, Satcube doesn’t object to the military use of its terminals, The Gaze wrote.
Interest in Satcube from the Ukrainian government grew after several humanitarian organizations and journalists decided to utilize equipment from this Swedish company for their activities in Ukraine. The foundation of Satcube’s satellite network is based on the American company Intelsat, which also placed an order for the supply of terminals worth approximately 70 million Swedish kronor (about 5.97 million euros). The cost of the terminals will be covered by Germany, which will then transfer them to Ukraine.
This is the largest order for Satcube since the beginning of terminal production in 2017. In the initial phase, around 100 portable internet terminals are planned to be provided to the Ukrainian side. As Jakob Kallmer, the founder and CEO of Satcube, revealed, the first devices were already dispatched to Ukraine at the beginning of summer.
The weight of Satcube’s portable internet terminal is approximately eight kilograms. It is capable of providing broadband access via geostationary satellites at speeds of up to 70 megabits per second. However, due to the significant distance, the signal experiences a delay of up to one second, as the satellites are positioned at an altitude of over 35,000 kilometers.
In February 2023, SpaceX took measures to prevent Ukrainian forces from using Starlink’s satellite internet for controlling drones. According to a representative of the company, the use of Starlink for military purposes goes against the agreement between SpaceX and the Ukrainian government, as the terminals were intended for humanitarian needs: hospitals, banks, and civilian institutions affected by Russian aggression.
It’s possible that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will also utilize satellite internet in their domestically produced unmanned kamikaze boats, which regularly launch attacks on the Russian fleet. Now, with the alternative terminals, these drones will once again have nearly unrestricted operational range (limited only by fuel reserves) and will become a genuine menace to Russian forces across the Black Sea region.
