Elon Musk is one of those who strongly support the Ukrainians in this war. A few months ago, the businessman transferred several Starlink satellite systems to Ukraine, thanks to which the Ukrainian military has access to the Internet in any region. But there is information that everything can go even further. And in the future, the mask of satellite Internet will replace mobile communications for Ukrainians. This opinion has already been suggested by the mobile operator Vodafone.

Many mobile towers collapsed in Ukraine

Even at the beginning of the war, the Russians deliberately destroyed mobile towers in order to deprive the Ukrainians of communication and the ability to transmit information. Then, a significant amount of telecommunication infrastructure was destroyed during the fierce fighting in the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumi regions. The invaders continue to destroy it to this day, especially in the east and south of the country. Now they are trying to reconnect in the occupied areas and Starlink is helping. Base stations are connected to satellite terminals to restore mobile networks. Therefore, satellite stations are likely not to be a temporary solution during the war, but a real alternative to communicating in many settlements.

Mobile operators were severely affected as a result of the war.

The same Vodafone has lost about 15% of the towers since the beginning of the war, 10% still not working. About 8% of the towers are not working on lifecell. Since the start of the war, Vodafone’s profits have fallen by 42%, and the company’s losses from the destruction are estimated at 1.5 billion hryvnia. But gradually everything is being restored, at least in the areas under the control of the Ukrainian government. There is communication in the occupied areas, but not everywhere, because the invaders specifically shut down stations and set up their networks.