European Union leaders have called for urgent efforts to reduce Europe’s dependence on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communications network, warning that the continent lacks an immediate alternative to a technology increasingly important to Ukraine’s defence against Russia.
The concern came into focus at an EU summit in Brussels on October 16, following reports of disruptions and restrictions affecting Starlink services used by Ukrainian forces. The episode renewed questions about Europe’s reliance on satellite infrastructure controlled by a private American company during a war that has made secure communications essential to military operations.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged that Europe could not replace Starlink’s capabilities in the short term, stressing the need to develop the capacity required to address critical gaps in European defence.
“Starlink is really necessary for Ukraine and unfortunately in the short term Europe can’t replace this capability,” Kallas said ahead of the summit.
Ukraine relies on SpaceX’s Starshield military communications service for battlefield connectivity, including communications supporting military operations and interceptor drones. The country also uses Starlink’s civilian satellite internet service, although the two systems serve different purposes.
Ukrainian officials reported slower speeds and connectivity problems affecting some terminals during the week of the summit. The precise circumstances surrounding the disruption remained disputed, with Elon Musk attributing responsibility for any interruption to the United States government rather than his company.
The episode exposed a strategic vulnerability for Ukraine and its European supporters: access to an important communications network depends heavily on infrastructure and decisions outside their direct control.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs underscored the network’s importance to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, while other European leaders called for greater investment in home-grown satellite capabilities.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said he had discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron how European countries could provide more satellite communication services in the near future.
However, developing an alternative capable of matching Starlink’s reach, capacity and operational performance will take time. Europe has satellite operators and existing space programmes, but building sufficient capacity to support military and civilian users presents a substantial technological and financial challenge.
Kallas said the European Defence Agency had identified critical capabilities Europe lacked and needed to develop as quickly as possible. The objective is to reduce strategic vulnerabilities while ensuring that European countries can maintain essential communications during a crisis.
The debate has also intensified efforts to strengthen Europe’s wider technological independence. Policymakers have increasingly argued that the continent should not rely excessively on external suppliers for infrastructure essential to its security, economy and public services.
On October 19, a separate initiative involving four major European telecommunications operators provided a potential step towards that objective. Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to explore a joint bid for mobile satellite spectrum rights, with the aim of developing satellite connectivity services for mobile devices.
The companies are considering direct-to-device technology, which allows compatible mobile phones to communicate with satellites rather than relying entirely on terrestrial mobile networks. Such services could improve coverage in remote areas, strengthen communications resilience and create another option for users when conventional networks are unavailable.
The initiative is not an immediate replacement for Starlink’s military-grade capabilities. Direct-to-device mobile services and the broadband and military communications functions provided by Starlink and Starshield have different technical requirements. Nevertheless, the proposed cooperation reflects growing European interest in building its own satellite communications capacity.
The four telecommunications companies are exploring access to spectrum expected to become available for allocation in 2027. Their proposal would involve cooperation with satellite infrastructure providers, although the final arrangements and the operator supplying the necessary satellite capacity have yet to be determined.
The initiative also highlights the role private European businesses could play alongside governments in developing alternative communications infrastructure. Cooperation between telecoms companies, satellite operators and public institutions could help spread investment costs and accelerate the development of services.
For Ukraine, however, the immediate challenge remains securing reliable communications while fighting continues. Satellite connectivity supports coordination across dispersed military units and helps maintain communications in areas where terrestrial infrastructure has been damaged or is unavailable.
Any prolonged disruption could therefore have operational consequences, making the availability of dependable alternatives a strategic concern for Kyiv and the European countries supporting it.
Britain has also sought clarification from Washington over the reported interruption. British Defence Minister Wes Streeting said he had discussed the issue with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and had been reassured that the service had been restored, although the precise cause of the disruption was not clear to British officials at the time.
The controversy comes amid broader uncertainty over transatlantic security relations and the future of European support for Ukraine. European governments have been under pressure to strengthen their own defence capabilities while continuing to rely on American technology and military assistance in several critical areas.
Reducing dependence on Starlink will require more than political declarations. Europe will need sustained funding, access to suitable spectrum, satellite manufacturing and launch capacity, secure ground infrastructure, and systems capable of meeting the demanding requirements of military users.
The challenge is particularly urgent because satellite networks cannot be built and deployed overnight. While existing European operators and government programmes may provide parts of the solution, matching the scale and operational flexibility of Starlink will require coordinated planning and long-term investment.
For EU leaders, the objective is not simply to develop a competing commercial service. It is to ensure that Europe and its partners can maintain access to essential communications even when geopolitical tensions or commercial decisions threaten existing arrangements.
The latest discussions have therefore placed satellite connectivity firmly within Europe’s broader security debate. Although Starlink remains difficult to replace in the short term, European leaders and telecommunications companies are increasingly looking for ways to ensure that the continent’s future communications needs are not dependent on a single external provider.