Ukraine, Gizmologi – The war between Ukraine and Russia has an impact on telecommunications services, especially internet access. Ukraine’s internet network has reportedly been disrupted after the Russian military invasion, since Wednesday (23/2/2022) night.
The disruption occurred in a number of areas, in particular the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine, where the fighting was taking place. Australia’s Monash IP Observatory said that currently the Obolonskyi district in Kiev and the central part of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine were also reportedly experiencing internet disruptions.
Ukraine’s internet disruption anomaly, according to the Monash IP Observatory, occurs because people don’t use computers to save themselves.
Ukrainian internet crash
According to internet blocking observatory NetBlocks, connections from GigaTrans, Ukraine’s largest internet service provider, were down about 20% from normal. Even though the internet service had gradually recovered on Friday (25/2) night.
“This figure shows services are disrupted, also people are leaving, homes and businesses are closed since the morning of the 24th,” said NetBlocks director, Alp Toker, as quoted by Reuters on Sunday (27/2/2022).
Although there were no nationwide blackouts, Toker said, there was little disruption from the worst-affected areas and elsewhere. However, there is a fear that the disconnection could worsen at any time.
“Currently we observe national connectivity at 87% of the usual level, a figure reflecting the disruption of services and flights of the population and the closure of homes and businesses since the morning of the 24th,” he explained.
Starlink Satellites Help Ukraine Internet
Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
On the other hand, SpaceX boss Elon Musk is reportedly preparing Starlink’s satellite broadband service to Ukraine. This broadband satellite will be prepared to help Ukraine’s internet connection which was disrupted by the war.
As is known, SpaceX currently operates 1,469 Starlink satellites and there are still 272 other mobile satellites that will soon be launched into operational orbit. Starlink’s presence in Ukraine was announced directly by Elon Musk through a tweet on his personal Twitter account.
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals on the way,” Musk tweeted.
Unfortunately, Musk did not provide further information about which cities or regions of Ukraine can already be connected to Internet services from Starlink. In the same tweet, without mentioning the number, Musk only revealed that there will be more Starlink (satellite) terminals coming soon in Ukraine.
Musk’s tweet is in response to a request by Mykhailo Fedorov who is Deputy Prime Minister at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. In his tweet, Fedorov asked Elon Musk to provide Starlink satellite internet service in his country.
On Friday (25/2), SpaceX just launched an additional 50 Starlink satellites to enhance the internet service it provides. Then, Starlink is also said to be sending more satellites into Earth’s orbit. This service is said to provide high-speed broadband internet with low latency worldwide.
This internet service developed by SpaceX takes advantage of SpaceX’s experience in building rockets and spacecraft to implement a broadband internet system that is claimed to be the most advanced in the world.
The Indonesian version of this article can be read in Gizmologi.ID
