CNBC reported that Musk's latest conflict with Ukraine highlights the critical role of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine's defense, while also exposing the drawbacks of relying on a single supplier. Ukrainian officials accused SpaceX on October 14 of restricting the speed of its Starshield service, disrupting drone communications. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk personally ordered the service change and had previously discussed it with Donald Trump. Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers have called for an investigation into Musk's actions.

Governments and companies seeking Starlink alternatives have limited options. Amazon's Project Kuiper satellite internet service is still under development, with only 390 satellites currently in orbit; SpaceX's Starlink already has over 11,000 satellites in orbit. France's Eutelsat owns over 600 satellites, and its stock price rose 23% on October 14 after reports of Musk restricting Starlink services emerged. The EU is also building the IRIS² system, but its first launch is not expected until 2029. Experts note that most planned systems struggle to match Starlink in terms of capacity, coverage, resilience, and cost. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that he had discussed developing new satellite communication capabilities with Norwegian officials.