Why Canadian Starlink subscribers (probably) shouldn't worry about U.S interference
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subscribers → worry → interference
Report says order to restrict Ukraine access to Starlink came from the White House
Earlier this week, Ukrainian officials said they had lost some access to Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, the satellite communications system operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Musk, CEO of SpaceX, denied any involvement in restricting Ukraine's access, saying that decision would be up to the U.S. government.
Meanwhile, on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump denied he was involved in the decision to restrict access and said he didn't think Musk was involved either.
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Musk → say → access
Trump's remarks followed a Reuters report that the White House had ordered the restrictions.
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House → follow → restrictions
Ukrainian officials said this week that military-grade Starlink terminals stopped working in Ukraine when mounted on fast-moving objects, interfering with Ukrainian drones that rely on them for onboard guidance over Ukrainian territory.
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that → say → territory
Still, the potential ability of the U.S government to affect the operation of a Starlink-related satellite system may also have raised questions about Washington's ability to influence commerical users of the system.
uncertain
ability → affect → system
In Canada, for example, Starlink provides internet access in remote areas and has about 500,000 users.
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Starlink → provide → users
Here's a look at the U.S. government's relationship with Starlink and Starshield, and the role it plays in each.
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it → play → each
A Ukrainian drone operator monitors video feeds and satellite imagery on an array of tablets.
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operator → monitor → tablets
Ukrainian officials say restrictions on Starshield have disrupted some drone operations.
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restrictions → say → operations
Its low-Earth-orbit satellites allow it to deliver faster connections than traditional satellite internet systems.
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it → allow → systems
The network gave Ukraine a critical communications advantage early in the war, reshaping how its military operates on the battlefield.
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military → give → battlefield
But when Musk and SpaceX became concerned about the commercial system being used for military purposes, the company created Starshield, said Mark Hilborne, an associate professor in the defence studies department at King's College London.
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Hilborne → become → London
Unlike the thousands of satellites used in the Starlink network, Starshield is limited to around 250, Hilborne said.
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Hilborne → use → 250
It's also a more secure network, is not publicly available and is used specifically for government and military purposes.
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It → use → purposes
Its secure communications services use enhanced encryption and dedicated terminals.
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services → use → encryption
Few countries have access to Starshield, Hillborne said.
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Hillborne → have → Starshield
The U.S. is the main customer, while the United Kingdom and Ukraine also have access.
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Kingdom → have → access
In Ukraine's case, the Pentagon covers the fees and allows the country to use the system.
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country → cover → system
While Starshield's missions are separate from Starlink's commercial broadband service, the distinction is not always clear-cut: Starshield's secure communications services use enhanced encryption and dedicated terminals but rely on the vast Starlink constellation as their backbone.
What role does the U.S. government have in Starshield?
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government → cut → Starshield
According to Musk, the Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S government.
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systems → accord → government
That means any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and, ultimately, by the president, he said.
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he → mean → president
"Mostly, it is used by [the U.S.] and it's for them.
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it → use → them
And so they probably make the ultimate decisions" regarding its use, Hilborne said.
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Hilborne → make → use
According to a 2024 Reuters report, the Pentagon has also bought dedicated Starshield satellites, including communications spacecraft for missile-warning missions and a spy constellation for the National Reconnaissance Office.
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Pentagon → accord → Office
But the relationship between Starshield and the U.S. government is "fuzzy," Craig Douglas Albert, a political science professor and graduate director of the Intelligence, Defense and Cybersecurity program at Augusta University in Georgia, said in an email to CBC News.
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Albert → say → News
This image shows Starlink satellites shortly after being launched into space in 2019.
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image → show → 2019
SpaceX develops and supplies Starshield through government contracts, meaning the system is privately owned but procured by the U.S. government, Albert said.
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Albert → develop → government
"There is a lot on this relationship that is classified and thus, the direct relationship is still unclear," he said.
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he → be → relationship
Does the U.S. government have any control over Starlink?
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government → have → Starlink
Again, Albert says, it's not entirely clear.
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it → say → ?
The U.S can regulate Starlink through licensing requirements and the terms of government contracts governing how the company operates, he said.
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he → regulate → contracts
However, much of the relationship is classified, limiting public understanding of how much influence the U.S. government has over Starlink, Albert said.
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Albert → classify → Starlink
But the U.S. has no direct control over Starlink itself, he said.
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he → have → Starlink
What major satellite systems does the U.S. government control?
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government → control → systems
Major examples would include the Global Positioning System (GPS), a space-based radio-navigation system owned by the U.S. government and operated by the United States Space Force.
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examples → include → Force
Its satellites provide services to civilian and military users.
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satellites → provide → users
The U.S. Space Force also operates Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system for military communications, as well as the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) for advanced missile warning.
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Force → operate → warning
"The relationship between satellite technology and the U.S. government exists from everyday consumer and citizen consumption through advanced national security operations," Albert said.
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Albert → exist → operations
Should Canadians be concerned about U.S. government control over private commercial systems?
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Canadians → concern → systems
Hilborne said that while the U.S. may technically have the capability to turn off such a system in a region of Canada, for example, such a move would likely be resisted by commercial operators.
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move → say → operators
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
