In a rare and serious disruption, Starlink’s global satellite network experienced a complete outage lasting over two hours last night. The incident left millions of users around the world offline, including those in critical and military environments.
The disruption affected Starlink’s entire constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, operated by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace company that provides high-speed satellite Internet in even the most remote areas.
Not a Cyberattack: SpaceX Confirms Internal Software Failure
Rumors of a cyberattack or sabotage spread rapidly across social platforms as the outage escalated. However, these were promptly denied by SpaceX.
Michael Nicolls, Vice President of Engineering at Starlink, clarified the cause:
“The issue was due to a failure in core internal software systems managing the primary network infrastructure. It stemmed from a configuration error, not from any external attack. We are working to fully resolve the root cause and ensure it does not happen again.”
The first reports appeared around 9:00 PM CET, peaking shortly after, as documented by the international version of Downdetector.
Global Impact Confirmed by NetBlocks
Independent watchdog NetBlocks confirmed that the Starlink outage had a significant global impact, with overall connectivity levels dropping to just 16% of normal traffic during the event.
In Ukraine, where Starlink has become a critical tool for military communication since the onset of the Russian invasion, the blackout was especially alarming. A Telegram message from a military-linked channel stated:
“Starlink is currently down along the entire front line during an ongoing military operation. Alternative communication channels should be considered immediately.”
The Risks of Centralized Connectivity Infrastructure
While the incident was not malicious, it raises critical concerns about the resilience and redundancy of satellite-based infrastructure—especially when it is used in strategic geopolitical contexts.
Starlink’s rapid adoption in both civilian and defense sectors highlights the growing dependency on a single provider. Even a brief outage can have serious global consequences.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Digital Infrastructure
The Starlink outage reminds us that even space-based Internet systems are not immune to failure. SpaceX has pledged to prevent future occurrences, but the message is clear:
Digital sovereignty and communication resilience matter more than ever.
