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Starlink relies on local downlinks (the laser link traffic is of course limited) so they probably just don't have the capacity in those regions. Or lack the per

Starlink relies on local downlinks (the laser link traffic is of course limited) so they probably just don't have the capacity in those regions. Or lack the permission to offer the service. Many countries forbid most satellite equipment, even big ones like India.

loceng 3y ago
A single Starlink could service bandwidth to a whole lot of people through local wired connections - which is a serious disruption to the existing industrial complex-government power structure; is what comes to my mind first.
- Angostura 3y ago
  > existing industrial complex-government power structure Or local businesses as they are sometimes known
  - loceng 3y ago
    Until there's consolidation and it's no longer local but national or multi-national, or global companies like Blackrock et al who own controlling shares and board member positions to steer the companies how they choose. But there is a good point and pattern to notice here, that further consolidation into a global companies providing internet access put resources and power into even fewer hands, but now that power is no longer being held by potentially authoritarian politicians and their Gestapo. The solution for that means requiring multiple satellite internet providers, and people paying attention always to prevent a critical mass or majority of them from capture by bad actors - which we know happened with MSM consolidation, as well as more recently with social media platforms all illegally colluding with the US government - exposed due to Elon buying Twitter-X and releasing the Twitter Files. But what point were you trying to make? That Starlink is bad for local economies because people are paying a non-local company?
    - Angostura 3y ago
      > But what point were you trying to make? That Starlink is bad for local economies because people are paying a non-local company? It's certainly a good way to suppress local infrastructure development, yes
bradley13 3y ago
"Or lack the permission to offer the service." Musk once said that, in that case, the country's leaders could "shake their fists impotently at the sky". Which is imho the right answer.
- cubefox 3y ago
  This would likely mean Starlink dishes imported from the US would get confiscated at customs.
- yestes33 3y ago
  [flagged]
- Onavo 3y ago
  His other businesses will most likely get sanctioned, employees associated with them will conveniently get searched and detained on trumped up charges whenever they visit said countries. It's very difficult because Musk's businesses are hardware businesses, and with hardware there is a supply chain involved. It's not difficult for a state level entity to create problems for his businesses.
- kjksf 3y ago
  That was in the context of hostile nations, like Russia or Iran or Cuba, where Starlink has no chance of being allowed. Everywhere else it makes much more sense to get permission to operate (vs. trying some pirate operation where Starlink is treated like a contraband that needs to be illegally imported into the country, the payments must happen stealthily, you get no support etc.).
- lxgr 3y ago
  Until one of them shoots down one of his satellites and ruins LEO for everybody. Space as a shared resource (as opposed to e.g. airspace) only works if countries (and corporations) respect each others sovereignty.
  - CamperBob2 3y ago
    How is Musk responsible for what amounts to a terroristic atrocity committed by an evil regime?
ranger_danger 3y ago
> Many countries forbid most satellite equipment, even big ones like India. Do you have a source for this?
- wkat4242 3y ago
  Here for example: https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/64974/why-are-satellite-phones-strictly-banned-in-india https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/64974/why-are-sat... Inmarsat is the only exception for phones.

loceng 3y ago

A single Starlink could service bandwidth to a whole lot of people through local wired connections - which is a serious disruption to the existing industrial complex-government power structure; is what comes to my mind first.

Angostura 3y ago
> existing industrial complex-government power structure Or local businesses as they are sometimes known
- loceng 3y ago
  Until there's consolidation and it's no longer local but national or multi-national, or global companies like Blackrock et al who own controlling shares and board member positions to steer the companies how they choose. But there is a good point and pattern to notice here, that further consolidation into a global companies providing internet access put resources and power into even fewer hands, but now that power is no longer being held by potentially authoritarian politicians and their Gestapo. The solution for that means requiring multiple satellite internet providers, and people paying attention always to prevent a critical mass or majority of them from capture by bad actors - which we know happened with MSM consolidation, as well as more recently with social media platforms all illegally colluding with the US government - exposed due to Elon buying Twitter-X and releasing the Twitter Files. But what point were you trying to make? That Starlink is bad for local economies because people are paying a non-local company?
  - Angostura 3y ago
    > But what point were you trying to make? That Starlink is bad for local economies because people are paying a non-local company? It's certainly a good way to suppress local infrastructure development, yes

bradley13 3y ago

"Or lack the permission to offer the service." Musk once said that, in that case, the country's leaders could "shake their fists impotently at the sky". Which is imho the right answer.

cubefox 3y ago
This would likely mean Starlink dishes imported from the US would get confiscated at customs.
yestes33 3y ago
[flagged]
Onavo 3y ago
His other businesses will most likely get sanctioned, employees associated with them will conveniently get searched and detained on trumped up charges whenever they visit said countries. It's very difficult because Musk's businesses are hardware businesses, and with hardware there is a supply chain involved. It's not difficult for a state level entity to create problems for his businesses.
kjksf 3y ago
That was in the context of hostile nations, like Russia or Iran or Cuba, where Starlink has no chance of being allowed. Everywhere else it makes much more sense to get permission to operate (vs. trying some pirate operation where Starlink is treated like a contraband that needs to be illegally imported into the country, the payments must happen stealthily, you get no support etc.).
lxgr 3y ago
Until one of them shoots down one of his satellites and ruins LEO for everybody. Space as a shared resource (as opposed to e.g. airspace) only works if countries (and corporations) respect each others sovereignty.
- CamperBob2 3y ago
  How is Musk responsible for what amounts to a terroristic atrocity committed by an evil regime?

ranger_danger 3y ago

> Many countries forbid most satellite equipment, even big ones like India. Do you have a source for this?

wkat4242 3y ago
Here for example: https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/64974/why-are-satellite-phones-strictly-banned-in-india https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/64974/why-are-sat... Inmarsat is the only exception for phones.