As the war between Israel and Hamas continues to rage, satellites Starlink could be deployed over certain parts of the territory.
After 12 days of conflict near the border with the Gaza Strip, the State of Israel could well receive help from Starlink. Elon Musk’s company which provides high-speed satellite Internet is in discussions with several local officials to deploy its service above the territory to improve communications around the conflict zone. A first for the American company, which has never set foot in this corner of the globe.
Starlink still to the rescue
“ Coordination activity […] enabling the operation of communications terminals by the company SpaceX is underway, which will enable high-speed internet connection in Israel », Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi announced on X.com. “ The ministry encourages the purchase of these satellite devices for the benefit of regional councils and community leaders in conflict zones “, he added.
The deployment of a high-speed internet connection system during the conflict could well give a significant advantage to the State of Israel, as was the case for Ukraine at the end of 2022. But the conflict between Moscow and Kiev also showed that relying on the goodwill of a man like Elon Musk can be a dangerous game.
Elon Musk, a partner who has become indispensable
Between drastic price increases, refusal to extend the coverage area to annexed Crimea and Elon Musk’s frequent changes of mind on the financing of such an operation, it appears quite clearly that the southern businessman -African is an unreliable partner in such circumstances. Add to this its refusal to allow Starlink to be used for offensive purposes, and the political-technological challenge weighing on the company’s shoulders seems almost insoluble.
No firm deployment date has been communicated by Starlink or the State of Israel. We will therefore have to wait to see how Musk’s company will position itself in this new armed conflict. However, it is becoming more and more obvious that SpaceX plays a crucial role in this type of situation and that the company often replaces state aid, which allows Elon Musk to position himself as an arbiter of the conflict, for the better. as if for the worst.
Source : TechCrunch
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