President Karol Nawrocki signed a bill to aid Ukrainian citizens. Thanks to the fresh regulations, our country will proceed to be able to finance the usage of the Starlink satellite communications strategy by Ukrainians. It provides the military and administration with access to the Internet.
Ukrainians usage mobile phones, standing close the Starlink satellite broadband station in Kherson, on 13 November 2022.
Poland since 2022, to aid Ukrainians, has paid for subscriptions and the acquisition of devices for the Starlink system. If it had not been for the signature of the head of state, there would have been no legal basis for continuing this aid with 1 October. Good news was confirmed yesterday by Mikhail Fedov, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. "In the times of war, Starlink technology is crucial for providing communication in hospitals, schools, critical infrastructure and front-end regions," wrote Fedrow on the Telegram channel. Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine thanked the Minister of Digitization Krzysztof Gawkowski and the full Polish government for their support and solidarity.
Decision extension of support However, it was not simple. Karol Nawrocki, who inactive declared in the electoral run a more firm approach to the issue of financial aid to Ukraine, vetoed the earlier draft government bill. It referred primarily to social issues – related to the stay of Ukrainian citizens in Poland – but besides regulated the financing of Starlinks. The president vetoed the full thing, too. In the end, after the introduction of parliamentary amendments, Nawrocki agreed to sign a bill that, among another things, limits the benefits of "800 plus" exclusively to the Ukrainians employed, but besides maintains the backing of the Starlins.
Project worth PLN 400 million
Between 2022 and 2024 Poland spent almost PLN 323 million on Starlinki for Ukraine. This amount besides includes subscription costs. No further purchases of equipment are planned for the current year and the estimated cost of the subscription is expected to be over PLN 77 million – results from data presented in spring of this year.
Finance for this intent comes from the Fund for Assistance for Ukraine, created by the Polish authorities after 24 February 2022. With these measures Ukraine has so far received 24.5 1000 satellite terminals. Another 5.1 1000 devices were made available by another entities from Poland. The Polish government pays the subscription for all devices. In total, there are almost 50,000 terminals in Ukraine, which means that Poland finances the functioning of 3 fifths of infrastructure. The cost of 1 subscription for the Starlink strategy is PLN 528.9 per month, and a peculiar subscription of PLN 1383.75.75 gross.
Not just for the army
Starlinki is simply a product of SpaceX company, which belongs to multibillionaire Elon Musk. The strategy consists of tiny satellites placed in low Earth orbit. Mobile terminals with case dimensions are utilized to connect to them. The largest user of the strategy present is Ukraine, especially in areas where telecommunications infrastructure (including masts and fibre optics) has been destroyed. The mobile net is utilized by Ukrainian administration and civilians, but above all by the army. Starlinks allow, for example, to send coordinates from drone operators to artillerymen.
The strategy is besides of large importance in the activities of civilian offices, which, for example, by remotely piloting refugees, provided them with the essential travel tips and could keep residents of circumstantial towns informed of the threat of artillery fire or bombing.
