BT Won't Launch Starlink Deal Until People Forget About Ukraine

BT has delayed the UK launch of its Starlink partnership until public attention on Elon Musk's interventions in Ukraine subsides, CEO Alison Kirkby told the Financial Times, saying the company was "cautious on how Starlink might be viewed at the moment." The pause follows Musk's reported October order to slow Starlink service used by the Ukrainian military, which sparked international criticism and raised questions about his reliability as a business partner. Despite the delay, BT expects the deal to proceed within "the coming months," positioning Starlink as a "giant leap" for rural connectivity in the UK. The episode highlights how the personal conduct of SpaceX's CEO is now a commercial risk for partners of his satellite internet venture. Watch for BT's launch timing and whether other Starlink partners follow suit in distancing themselves from Musk's geopolitical controversies.