BT to hold off Starlink launch until Ukraine ’noise’ dies down, CEO tells FT

BT has decided to postpone its partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink until the controversy surrounding recent satellite communications disruptions in Ukraine eases, according to CEO Allison Kirkby. This decision comes after Starlink’s speed restrictions in Ukraine hindered efforts to intercept Russian drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.

The Ukrainian military relies on Starlink for battlefield communications and drone operations, which were significantly impacted by the restrictions. US President Donald Trump stated last month that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s access to Starlink, but neither Musk nor the US government has confirmed responsibility for the restrictions.

BT CEO Kirkby noted that while the service was "ready to launch," BT is being cautious about how Starlink might be perceived in light of the recent events in Ukraine. The partnership was announced last year, with services initially set to become available by the end of 2026. Kirkby stated that BT plans to launch satellite broadband with Starlink "in the coming months." Neither BT nor Starlink responded to requests for comment outside regular business hours.