Thing is squadrom 42 is a fully aingle player game that probably wont need online conection. I think it has been addressed by CR before that the internet requirements will be for the persistent universe.
That is correct. Squadron 42 will need online connection only if you want certain features. The biggest is registration of your results and so how it'll affect your character in the PU afterwards. Another is the planned feature to play with friends in multiplayer ships in Squadron 42. But it'll be fully possible to play Squadron 42 without any connection to Internet. You can also skip Squadron 42 all together and go directly to the PU.
You can aslo skip playing the PU and only play Squadron 42, of course.
The PU will need online connection for the same reasons, but will be totally dependant of online connection due to the data going back and forth about the gameplay all the time - where your opponent is, what he's doing, how your actions affect him, and so on.
Then, in addition, there will be possibility for private servers. These will get a semi-static version of the PU to download and install on the private server, so you can run it yourself on a server at home or in a company. I call it semi-static because it's a snapshot of the PU which won't get all the changes and updates that the PU gets. Perhaps there'll also be some limited features in the private servers, compared to the PU. Basically, CIG don't want people to compete with them by offering a full alternative so it will probably be "crippled" somehow. And the private servers won't get all changes like dead NPC's, discovered resources and relics, or added star systems.
People will be able to change their own private servers, much like CIG will do with their PU, but most probably to a limit. Again, CIG don't want competitors who offers full alternatives, which is perfectly logical and understandable.