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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 6/03/2022 4:25 am, Larry Press
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:BYAPR03MB3863776265643B78B2778337C2069@BYAPR03MB3863.namprd03.prod.outlook.com">
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<span style="margin:0px; font-size:12pt;
background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="margin:0px;
background-color:rgb(255,255,255); display:inline!important"><span style="margin:0px; font-size:14px;
background-color:rgb(255,255,255);
display:inline!important">> But that's exactly the
situation that would make it a party to the conflict and
its user a target.</span><br>
</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin:0px; font-size:12pt;
background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">How many terminals do you
think they have and who -- which class of person -- do you
think has them?<br>
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</blockquote>
Starlink: With the given ground station arrangement, my best guess
would be a few hundred. Who has them: The Ukrainian government,
FAIK, exclusively.<br>
<p>Non-Starlink: Given that the mobile networks and fixed Internet
are still operational in most places, including some overrun by
the Russians, I'd say probably a couple of dozen million? Any
mobile phone with data connectivity can in principle be shared
among multiple users as a WiFi hotspot, as can any domestic DSL or
fibre connection. I would expect there to be significant moves in
these networks towards backhaul diversification on the provider
side as well as towards mesh-ification on the user side.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Dishy-sized satellite TV antennas are common household items in
Ukraine (just have a look at Google Street View), and they have a
population that is by and large well educated and technically
nimble and literate. So I'd expect Wi-Fi mesh networks using
satellite dishes for range extension to become common, too. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>But they don't get the PR miles out of this that Starlink do.
Only Saint Elon does ;-)<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>BTW: There has been a serious cyber attack on ViaSat's central
and eastern European KA-SAT services, likely to be connected to
the war in Ukraine. Collateral damage? The remote monitoring and
maintenance facilities on around 3,000 German wind turbines.
Google translation of the article in Der Spiegel is here: <br>
</p>
<p><br>
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<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www-spiegel-de.translate.goog/netzwelt/web/viasat-satellitennetzwerk-offenbar-gezielt-in-osteuropa-gehackt-a-afd98117-5c32-4946-ab8a-619f1e7af024?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp">https://www-spiegel-de.translate.goog/netzwelt/web/viasat-satellitennetzwerk-offenbar-gezielt-in-osteuropa-gehackt-a-afd98117-5c32-4946-ab8a-619f1e7af024?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp</a><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>The case was flagged by Andreas Knopp from Bundeswehr University
in Munich, a well-known researcher in the satcom sector (I've met
him so I know he exists ;-)):</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://idw--online-de.translate.goog/de/news789489?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp">https://idw--online-de.translate.goog/de/news789489?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp</a></p>
<p><br>
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--
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">****************************************************************
Dr. Ulrich Speidel
School of Computer Science
Room 303S.594 (City Campus)
The University of Auckland
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:u.speidel@auckland.ac.nz">u.speidel@auckland.ac.nz</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~ulrich/">http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~ulrich/</a>
****************************************************************
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