The UK Ministry of Defence spends significant amounts of money each year on purchasing Starlink terminals and satellite internet services, particularly to support Ukraine.
According to The Telegraph, citing recently published government data, the UK Ministry of Defence has invested £16.6 million in Starlink over the past four years. Part of these funds is allocated to ensuring uninterrupted high-speed internet for Ukrainian troops on the front lines.
The rest of the funding is used to provide communication for British soldiers or sailors in remote areas. Last year, sailors aboard the HMS Prince of Wales tested Starlink internet connectivity so they could watch TV or stay in touch with their families.
Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine has received over 50,000 Starlink terminals. Some were donated by SpaceX, while others were provided as part of military aid from the U.S. or allies, notably Poland.
These terminals are actively used to control drones and maintain communications on the front lines. Meanwhile, the Russian government has banned the import of equipment for receiving and transmitting signals from foreign communications satellites, including Starlink.
