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I wonder if Starlink could be used for tracking (non-Starlink) cellphones, in countries hostile to the US (so that the telecom's cell towers are not accessible)
by perihelions 3y ago
I wonder if Starlink could be used for tracking (non-Starlink) cellphones, in countries hostile to the US (so that the telecom's cell towers are not accessible). Is there enough leaked signal in low orbit, and enough data in that signal, to identify individual devices?
AFAIK, all of the US' signals intelligence satellites are in very high orbits (geosynchronous), so this probably isn't a pre-existing capability.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- Chingers 3y agoThere is a company that already does this, they use it to track ships that turn off their transponders or AIS systems. I think it was shared on hn recently, but I can't find the article anymore
- perihelions 3y agoOh yeah, I saw that one too! Don't remember what tech they were using.
- Sayrus 3y agoI think that's the one: https://jackpoulson.substack.com/p/lockheed-is-now-tracking-phones-and https://jackpoulson.substack.com/p/lockheed-is-now-tracking-...
- ianburrell 3y agoThey would have to be designed to do that. The current system are likely tuned to the 1900 MHz band that they have negotiated with carriers. The US does have low altitude sigint satellites, specifically Navy constellation.
- toomuchtodo 3y agoLike https://www.he360.com/products/rfgeo-radio-frequency-signal-mapping/ https://www.he360.com/products/rfgeo-radio-frequency-signal-... ?