![]() |
||
|
||
Starlink helps Vodafone Ukraine reconnect battle-scarred townsIn collaboration with LEO satellite broadband provider Starlink, an Elon Musk SpaceX company, Vodafone Ukraine says it has reconnected the towns of Irpin and Romanivka (located near capital city Kyiv). A basestation not far from Irpin and Romanivka has been equipped with Starlink equipment, which enables a satellite-based transport network. Both 2G and 4G configurations, said Vodafone Ukraine, are supported by the setup. The operator points out that technology convergence of this sort, where operation of a mobile network operator's network is backed up via satellite, is only the second of its kind in the world. The first was apparently deployed by Japanese operator KDDI.
![]() A SpaceX Starlink Internet terminal installed in Odesa, Southern Ukraine, March 15, 2022.
(Source: Abaca Press/Alamy Stock Photo) "Thanks to this scheme of work," said the operator in a brief statement, "Vodafone was able to quickly restore mobile communications in areas with damaged nodes." Irpin was badly hit by Russian firepower but has put up fierce resistance, helping to repel an advance on the capital city. Starlink there from the start SpaceX activated its Starlink service in Ukraine and dispatched more terminals to the country on February 26, two days after the Russian invasion, in response to a tweeted request from Ukraine's vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov. "Starlink–here. Thanks, @elonmusk", Fedorov wrote on February 28, after the first shipment arrived. He added the connectivity "will save a lot of lives."
An unofficial map of Starlink satellites shows its constellation of 2,000 normally has several satellites over Ukraine, and there are gateway ground stations in nearby countries for broadband. SpaceX is working on software updates to reduce power consumption, to allow Starlink dishes to run from automobile cigarette lighters, while also enabling mobile roaming so dishes can stay connected while on a moving vehicle, said Musk in a tweet. He also suggested solar panels and battery packs as better power sources than generators, since solar power lacked "heat signature or smoke and doesn't run out of fuel." Related posts:
— Ken Wieland, contributing editor, special to Light Reading A version of this story first appeared on Light Reading. |
Latest Articles
Here's where you can find episode links for 'The Divide,' Light Reading's podcast series featuring conversations with broadband providers and policymakers working to close the digital divide.
As we have for the past two years, Light Reading will present our Cable Next-Gen Europe conference as a free digital symposium on June 21.
Charter has sparked RDOF work in all 24 states where it won bids. The cable op booked about $19 million in RDOF revenues in Q1, and expects to have about $9 million per month come in over the next ten years.
As we have for the past two years, Light Reading will stage the Cable Next-Gen Technologies & Strategies conference as a free digital event over two half-days in mid-March.
Launch of 2-Gig and 5-Gig FTTP tiers in 70-plus markets puts more pressure on cable ops to enhance their existing DOCSIS 3.1 network or accelerate their upgrade activity centered on the new DOCSIS 4.0 specs.
![]() ARCHIVED
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
1:00 p.m. New York / 6:00 p.m. London When your broadband business adds new services and connected devices, do they also add complexity, slowing customer support teams as they navigate multiple data sources to uncover connectivity issues? We’ve worked with hundreds of support teams to help them implement a subscriber experience management platform that gives greater visibility into subscriber issues. They can proactively troubleshoot amid complexity—improving the subscriber experience and raising customer satisfaction ratings like Net Promoter Scores. Join this webinar with experts from Calix and global research leader Omdia who will share exclusive research about how you can:
|
|
![]() |
Broadband World News
About Us
Advertise With Us
Contact Us
Help
Register
Twitter
Facebook
RSS
Copyright © 2023 Light Reading, part of Informa Tech, a division of Informa PLC. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use in partnership with
|