The Belarusian military has reportedly created its own satellite internet solution that mirrors the capabilities of Starlink, but at a fraction of the cost. A video circulating on the government news agency BelTA and its YouTube channel presents the project as a grassroots effort by a service member rather than a corporate venture.
According to the footage, the system created by a single unknown soldier is described as not inferior to the Starlink network developed by Elon Musk’s company. President Alexander Lukashenko told military personnel in the Brest region that Belarus achieved this milestone without the vast expenditure associated with the American model, remarking that it did not require “billions of dollars.”
In Lukashenko’s words, the Belarusian government does not need Musk’s solution to secure online connectivity for its armed forces or citizens. This framing positions the Belarusian project as a domestically funded, self-reliant alternative to foreign satellite internet services.
The inventor explained the core concept behind the system. In broad terms, an internet access point sits somewhere in Minsk. The network connects to that point remotely via satellite and then distributes the connection locally through a router, creating a portable and potentially rapid deployment of internet access in various locations.
Meanwhile, discussions in Western security circles have connected Starlink to airborne and space-based operations. For example, General Chance Saltzman, who previously led the U.S. Space Force, has been cited in discussions about the resilience of satellite communications in conflict zones. There are reports and claims about attempts by the Russian Armed Forces to disrupt or degrade Starlink services used in Ukraine, though such statements are often contested and part of broader information campaigns on operational capabilities.
Beyond the headlines, observers note the growing interest in civilian and military space-based networks as strategic assets. Musk’s Starlink system has been analyzed for its role in drone operations, emergency responses, and rural internet provision. The Belarusian effort, if verified, would add to a catalog of national attempts to reduce reliance on foreign telecommunications infrastructure and to accelerate digital connectivity for a wider population in challenging environments. Such developments reflect ongoing tensions around sovereignty, supply chains, and the evolving balance of digital power across the region. [citation: BelTA], [citation: Defence analysis reports], [citation: Satellite communications forums]