European country installs Starlink in four embassies

Italy has installed Starlink antennas at four embassies around the world to test their functionality, but has not signed a national security contract with Elon Musk's company, a minister said Thursday.

Italy's right-wing administration aims to guarantee encrypted communications between government, diplomats and defense officials operating in dangerous areas, and Musk's Starlink is among the contenders to provide the system.

But talks between the government and Starlink have sparked anger among opposition politicians, who question the wisdom of handing over a national security contract to a foreign businessman and close ally of US President Donald Trump.

"Some experiments with Starlink satellite systems began in diplomatic offices in Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Lebanon and Iran, which were equipped with Starlink antennas, although none are active to date," Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani told the Senate.

"The procedure is that the antennas are activated only to test their operation, and then suspended in order to be reactivated only when necessary," Ciriani said.

He told lawmakers that the antennas would not be used to exchange classified information and would not be deployed as part of a direct deal between Italy and Musk's SpaceX, of which Starlink is part, but through contracts set up by third-party companies.

"There was no trust of the country's critical infrastructure in Starlink," Ciriani added.

Starlink is a dominant force in the sector with 6700 active satellites. Sources have told Reuters that Rome is considering a five-year deal worth a total of 1.5 billion euros ($1.63 billion). /Telegraph/