Satellite Internet

An Update on LEO Satellites

A lot of rural America continues to hope that low orbit satellite (LEO) service will provide a broadband alternative. It's been a while since I've covered the status of the companies proposing to deploy constellations of satellites for providing broadband. In March, OneWeb filed for Chapter 11 restructuring when it was clear that the company could not raise enough cash to continue the research and development of the satellite product. more

SpaceX Launches Another Batch of 60 Starlink Internet Satellites

SpaceX launched its eighth Starlink mission via the Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday, carrying 60 more satellites for its Internet satellite constellation, bringing the total in operation on orbit to 480. more

Starlink Making a Space Grab

SpaceNews recently reported that Elon Musk and his low-orbit space venture Starlink have filed with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to launch an additional 30,000 broadband satellites in addition to the 11,927 now in the planning stages. This looks like a land grab and Musk is hoping to grab valuable orbital satellite paths to keep them away from competitors. more

SpaceX Launching Two Experimental Internet Satellites This Weekend

On Saturday, SpaceX will be launching two experimental mini-satellites that will pave the path for the first batch of what is planned to be a 4,000-satellite constellation providing low-cost internet around the earth. more

Two Ways to Build the Internet in Space - China, Inc. vs Starlink Et Al

Starlink's rapid integrated model contrasts with China's coordinated, multi-constellation strategy, where specialised networks share roles. Though slower to deploy, this system could narrow the gap and reshape global satellite internet competition by 2030 significantly ahead. more

Satellite Industry Heats Up as Amazon, SpaceX and Blue Origin Compete for Orbit

April's satellite sector saw Amazon's $10.8bn Globalstar bid, surging plans for orbital data centres, intensifying SpaceX rivalry, regulatory friction, and doubts over broadband promises, underscoring a crowded, contested race to control next-generation connectivity infrastructure global. more

The Kinetic Frontier: Lessons From Geopolitical Violence and the Bunkerization of AI Infrastructure

Kinetic attacks on Gulf data centres expose the cloud's physical fragility, recasting AI infrastructure as strategic targets and accelerating bunkerisation, while outdated data laws leave firms choosing between legal compliance and digital survival. more

Iran’s Record Internet Blackout Deepens Civilian Isolation, Fuels Humanitarian Concerns

Iran’s unprecedented internet blackout, imposed after February’s strikes, has reduced connectivity to near zero, tightened state control over information, and set a global precedent for wartime digital isolation with significant humanitarian consequences. more

How Many Internet-Service Satellites Will Be in Orbit at the End of China’s Five-Year Plan?

China's latest five-year plan accelerates its push into low Earth orbit, with competing constellations projected to field tens of thousands of satellites by 2030, narrowing the gap with Starlink while raising concerns over congestion. more

Iran’s Digital Arsenal: When Invisible Fences Rise in the Conflict

Iran's near-total internet blackout during airstrikes reveals how cyberattacks, sanctions and platform power can isolate a nation. The conflict shows digital infrastructure, satellites and cloud services becoming decisive weapons in modern geopolitical competition worldwide today. more

Iranians Outsmart Internet Blackout to Broadcast Airstrikes

After US and Israeli strikes, Iran imposed a near-total internet blackout, yet citizens used satellite links and decentralized tools to share footage, undermining state control and exposing a growing contest over information in wartime. more

The Geopolitical Protocol: Can QUIC and LEO Satellites Mitigate the Risks of Fragile Subsea Cables?

As geopolitical tensions expose the fragility of subsea cables, Low Earth Orbit satellites and the QUIC protocol promise a more resilient internet by diversifying routes, preserving session continuity, and redefining control over global data flows. more

SpaceX Proposes a Million More Satellites on Paper

SpaceX has filed a plan to place more than a million satellites in low Earth orbit, recasting data centres as spaceborne infrastructure while testing regulators, safety, competition and the line between vision and paper ambition. more

Starlink Flexing Its Market Power

Starlink is leveraging its growing dominance with data-hungry AI ambitions, regulatory demands, and space infrastructure plans. A merger with xAI could solidify its position as an unregulated gatekeeper of orbital connectivity and intelligence. more

Starlink’s Role in Last Year’s Los Angeles Fires

During California's devastating 2025 wildfires, Starlink, Tesla, and T-Mobile offered vital emergency connectivity. Their improvised response reveals both the promise of satellite-based disaster aid and the need for formalised coordination with public agencies. more