Elon Musk
Reveals: Coast Guard uses Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system
Victor Stenquist
Published 19.15
Quick version
- Elon Musk has attracted attention after accusations of having made a Hitler salute, but he denies that it was his intention.
- The Coast Guard has been testing Musk's Starlink satellite system for its communications needs at sea for six months and is considering entering into a contract.
- Experts emphasize the importance of Swedish authorities having multiple communications systems for redundancy and being careful about becoming dependent on a single system like Starlink.
Aftonbladet can now reveal that the Coast Guard is considering purchasing services from the billionaire's satellite system Starlink – which is currently being evaluated.
– We have had the communication solution on trial for about six months, says Mattias Lindholm, press secretary at the Coast Guard.
In connection with Monday's presidential inauguration in Washington, Elon Musk caused at least as many headlines as President-elect Donald Trump – after the company leader's repeated gestures on stage.
Musk has been accused of making the Hitler salute, but he himself denied that this was his intention.
While the company leader has taken a place in Trump's inner circle, his companies continue to be constantly in the news.
Used on Coast Guard ships
Among them is Starlink – a satellite constellation consisting of thousands of satellites in low orbit that provide users with wireless internet.Starlink was developed by Musk-controlled Space X and has now found a potential customer in the Swedish Coast Guard.
– Like many others, we are in need of communication solutions at sea to facilitate our operations. Right now, we are testing Starlink, and then we will use more systems for communication and data transfer. We are concerned about redundancy in the system, says Mattias Lindholm, press secretary at the Coast Guard
How long the Coast Guard will evaluate Starlink before deciding to enter into an agreement on the Starlink product is unclear.
– We currently have no further information about when we will decide or what the decision will be, says Mattias Lindholm.
Must have multiple solutions
Experts that Aftonbladet spoke to state that it is natural for authorities with an operationally communication-sensitive mission to consider multiple suppliers and services.– The problem is that there is a risk that the ability to communicate is cut off without warning, but that is not surprising, you have to expect that with all types of communication you have, says Patrik Fältström, internationally recognized IT pioneer and co-developer of a number of essential IT services.
He continues:
– If you have not built a system that is encrypted and secured enough that you can communicate on it over your enemy's wire, you have not made it secure enough.
Joakim von Braun, a security expert with a background in Säpo and the Military Intelligence Service, Must, also warns against becoming dependent on a single system.
– Should a system you use be put out of action in any way, you should be able to go back to the communication solutions you used before without any problems.
– This means that you must have several options alive where you are trained and educated in the systems you have as a backup.
But should Swedish authorities do business with companies that have such an unpredictable leader as Elon Musk has previously proven to be?
– You can certainly ask yourself that, but the question is also what alternatives there are. As long as you don't throw away other solutions, I see no obstacle to having Starlink on top of that, says Joakim von Braun.
– You can certainly ask yourself that, but the question is also what alternatives there are. As long as you don't throw away other solutions, I see no obstacle to having Starlink on top of that, says Joakim von Braun.
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