4 ms·

Sure they could. They could make it illegal to possess Starklink equipment within their borders, in the name of “national security” or whatnot.

bpodgursky 2y ago
Starlink can talk direct to cell phones.
- gruez 2y ago
  Those work far worse (bandwidth) than the dedicated terminals.
- NoahKAndrews 2y ago
  Only for extremely low-bandwidth service, good for texting and such.
  - lukan 2y ago
    That would be enough to get that information, totalitarian governments don't want you to get. So expect regulations regarding those smartphones soon. And be aware if you travel with a satellite capable device (india apparently also don't like them): https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/india-garmin-inreach/ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-b...
    - throwaway48476 2y ago
      There's no way to put the smartphone genie back in the bottle and there's no way to visually differentiate satelote capable phones. It's going to be easy to smuggle them across borders.
      - lukan 2y ago
        Maybe, but would you currently like to go to india with a satellite capable device? And in the future I can imagine mandatory software that needs to be installed in many countries, to be able to do any buisness there. Not specifically against satellites - but for using the bus, paying the hotel, getting a appointment at the police, ... and that app would make sure, you only connect to authorized means of communication. The hard part will be preventing that shit to become universal.
    - fragmede 2y ago
      India sees the ability for anyone to anonymously post things on the Internet as all kinds of stupid, and heavily regulates the access to the Internet so any in-country activity can be tracked back to an individual.
  - ianburrell 2y ago
    Also, only using allocated spectrum. Starlink Direct-to-Cell requires partnership with mobile providers that hold that spectrum, like T-Mobile. Terrestrial network using those frequencies would probably swamp the signal from space. Legally, Starlink can't use those frequencies without permission from each country.
aaomidi 2y ago
This is the case in Iran despite there being an ever growing number of them there.
- bilbo0s 2y ago
  Problem in Africa is that the Chinese will sail in with their alternatives at the first sign of trouble. Right now, we can’t have games like that in Africa. We’re in an almost daily grind trying to counter Chinese influence as it is. The last thing we need is Elon sailing in torpedoing our efforts. We need to be cognizant of the fact that we’re no longer the only game in town, and act accordingly when using power. Soft or hard.
  - elcritch 2y ago
    Well if the point is that Zimbabwe starts playing games and corruption starlink can ignore them. Sure the Chinese could play Zimbabwe’s game, but then they’d likely be more expensive and worse quality by blocking things the government doesn’t like. If people can still access starlink why would they use the state sanctioned but crappy provider?
    - notahacker 2y ago
      Because China isn't exactly famed for its corporations' market clearing prices being expensive, and most people would rather buy legal satcomms equipment (and VPN in, if they really need to access something the Zimbabwean government doesn't want them to see or the Chinese government cares about Africans seeing) than jump through hoops to get the equipment and subscription payments to the American service, bandwidth which Starlink has minimal motivation to give away cheaply anyway.
  - fl0id 2y ago
    The Chinese don’t have sth similar right now, right? Also at this point tbh would prefer Chinese whatever over us/starlink. At least it will be more rational.
    - 2y ago

bpodgursky 2y ago

Starlink can talk direct to cell phones.

gruez 2y ago
Those work far worse (bandwidth) than the dedicated terminals.
NoahKAndrews 2y ago
Only for extremely low-bandwidth service, good for texting and such.
- lukan 2y ago
  That would be enough to get that information, totalitarian governments don't want you to get. So expect regulations regarding those smartphones soon. And be aware if you travel with a satellite capable device (india apparently also don't like them): https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/india-garmin-inreach/ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-b...
  - throwaway48476 2y ago
    There's no way to put the smartphone genie back in the bottle and there's no way to visually differentiate satelote capable phones. It's going to be easy to smuggle them across borders.
    - lukan 2y ago
      Maybe, but would you currently like to go to india with a satellite capable device? And in the future I can imagine mandatory software that needs to be installed in many countries, to be able to do any buisness there. Not specifically against satellites - but for using the bus, paying the hotel, getting a appointment at the police, ... and that app would make sure, you only connect to authorized means of communication. The hard part will be preventing that shit to become universal.
  - fragmede 2y ago
    India sees the ability for anyone to anonymously post things on the Internet as all kinds of stupid, and heavily regulates the access to the Internet so any in-country activity can be tracked back to an individual.
- ianburrell 2y ago
  Also, only using allocated spectrum. Starlink Direct-to-Cell requires partnership with mobile providers that hold that spectrum, like T-Mobile. Terrestrial network using those frequencies would probably swamp the signal from space. Legally, Starlink can't use those frequencies without permission from each country.

aaomidi 2y ago

This is the case in Iran despite there being an ever growing number of them there.

bilbo0s 2y ago
Problem in Africa is that the Chinese will sail in with their alternatives at the first sign of trouble. Right now, we can’t have games like that in Africa. We’re in an almost daily grind trying to counter Chinese influence as it is. The last thing we need is Elon sailing in torpedoing our efforts. We need to be cognizant of the fact that we’re no longer the only game in town, and act accordingly when using power. Soft or hard.
- elcritch 2y ago
  Well if the point is that Zimbabwe starts playing games and corruption starlink can ignore them. Sure the Chinese could play Zimbabwe’s game, but then they’d likely be more expensive and worse quality by blocking things the government doesn’t like. If people can still access starlink why would they use the state sanctioned but crappy provider?
  - notahacker 2y ago
    Because China isn't exactly famed for its corporations' market clearing prices being expensive, and most people would rather buy legal satcomms equipment (and VPN in, if they really need to access something the Zimbabwean government doesn't want them to see or the Chinese government cares about Africans seeing) than jump through hoops to get the equipment and subscription payments to the American service, bandwidth which Starlink has minimal motivation to give away cheaply anyway.
- fl0id 2y ago
  The Chinese don’t have sth similar right now, right? Also at this point tbh would prefer Chinese whatever over us/starlink. At least it will be more rational.
  - 2y ago