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Telecoms sans frontiers is operating within Ukraine and neighboring countries providing Internet access and telephone services to civilians. SpaceX shouldn’t ha

by Thlom 4y ago

Telecoms sans frontiers is operating within Ukraine and neighboring countries providing Internet access and telephone services to civilians. SpaceX shouldn’t have been allowed to insert themselves in the conflict. They should use existing structures if they want to provide humanitarian telecom and if they wanted to provide their offerings to the military they should go through normal channels. Just throwing their offering into the conflict with unclear strings attached inevitably led to drama. Operating like a normal company might give less PR, but probably wouldn’t have ended with Elon parroting Russian talking points …

mlindner 4y ago
> SpaceX shouldn’t have been allowed to insert themselves in the conflict. Except Starlink has become critical for the military in Ukraine. It's used extensively to live stream drone footage from the frontlines to command locations over things like google hangouts. There's videos of this which is why we know. It also works without any infrastructure when it's all been destroyed has has been critical in getting cell service up and running quickly in destroyed areas.
- Thlom 4y ago
  I’m sorry if I was unclear. I do not mean spaceX should stay away, but that they should operate through normal routes. It might take a bit longer, but should make this ongoing drama less likely to happen.
  - mlindner 4y ago
    What do you mean "normal routes"? Also time is of the essence during war. Viasat which had been the primary satellite communication method of the Ukrainian military was completely knocked out with many viasat terminals across Europe irreparably destroyed by Russian cyberattack when the war broke out.
    - Thlom 4y ago
      They should have sold airtime and terminals to the military and worked with humanitarian organisations for civilian use. Point is that there must be clear expectations and obligations on both sides to hopefully prevent stupid disputes and drama.

by Thlom 4y ago

mlindner 4y ago

> SpaceX shouldn’t have been allowed to insert themselves in the conflict. Except Starlink has become critical for the military in Ukraine. It's used extensively to live stream drone footage from the frontlines to command locations over things like google hangouts. There's videos of this which is why we know. It also works without any infrastructure when it's all been destroyed has has been critical in getting cell service up and running quickly in destroyed areas.

Thlom 4y ago
I’m sorry if I was unclear. I do not mean spaceX should stay away, but that they should operate through normal routes. It might take a bit longer, but should make this ongoing drama less likely to happen.
- mlindner 4y ago
  What do you mean "normal routes"? Also time is of the essence during war. Viasat which had been the primary satellite communication method of the Ukrainian military was completely knocked out with many viasat terminals across Europe irreparably destroyed by Russian cyberattack when the war broke out.
  - Thlom 4y ago
    They should have sold airtime and terminals to the military and worked with humanitarian organisations for civilian use. Point is that there must be clear expectations and obligations on both sides to hopefully prevent stupid disputes and drama.