Poland plans to purchase another 5,000 Starlink terminals to ensure stable Internet connectivity in Ukraine.

This was stated by the Poland Digitization Minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, in an interview with Radio ZET.

According to him, Poland has already provided Ukraine with about 30,000 Starlink terminals, which are actively used on its territory.

“We are buying Starlink to provide Internet in Ukraine, as it is of strategic importance. The Ukrainian frontline would have collapsed without communication, and it is beneficial for Poland to keep it as far away from Warsaw as possible,” the official said.

He added that the new terminals will help both the Ukrainian military and civilians stay connected.

Recently, it was reported that Poland would be forced to find another satellite communication provider for Ukraine if Starlink services are disconnected.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski previously stated that Poland pays under the “Starlink contract” for Ukraine $50 million a year.

“If we put aside the ethics of threatening a victim of aggression, if SpaceX turns out to be an unreliable supplier, we will be forced to look for other suppliers,” he said.

With this message, Sikorsky responded to SpaceX owner Elon Musk, who said that the Starlink system “is the backbone of the Ukrainian army and everything will collapse if he turns it off.”

European alternatives to Starlink

The European Union is in talks with four satellite internet operators to replace Starlink in the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Among the potential suppliers are Luxembourg’s SES, Spain’s Hisdesat, Britain’s Viasat, and the French-British Eutelsat/OneWeb.

According to European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, Ukraine is interested in switching to alternative communication systems, including GovSatCom, a pooled network of the EU’s existing national government satellite capacity.

The possibility of using the IRIS² satellite group is also being considered, but it is expected to be put into operation only in the 2030s.

While IRIS² remains a long-term alternative, it is not viable for an immediate transition if the U.S. system were to be abruptly shut down.

GovSatCom’s initial operational readiness is expected this year but will serve only as an interim solution until IRIS² is fully implemented.