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A recent report reveals that military leaders from various countries have expressed concerns to US officials regarding the dominance and control of Elon Musk over satellite internet through SpaceX’s Starlink.

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has revolutionized the launch industry with its reusable Falcon 9 rocket. Leveraging this advantage, the company has established itself as the leading player in satellite internet, with over 4,500 Starlink satellites currently in orbit, accounting for more than half of all active satellites. The constellation may eventually expand to a staggering 42,000 satellites.

The significance of SpaceX’s Starlink came to the forefront during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as it played a crucial role in providing vital communications to Ukraine, particularly in the aftermath of infrastructure damage and disrupted geostationary satellite signals.

General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the leader of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, has raised concerns about Starlink with the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The report states that Musk has restricted access to Starlink multiple times during the war, impeding Ukraine’s battlefield decisions that relied on the system for communications. These restrictions were carried out through geofencing, and access to Starlink also fluctuated based on the shifting dynamics of the conflict.

In addition to Ukraine, at least nine other countries in Europe and the Middle East have raised concerns about Starlink’s operations and Musk’s authority over the technology. These countries have questioned the level of oversight and regulation governing Starlink.

Taiwan has also expressed apprehensions, particularly due to the financial interests it sees Musk having tied to China through the manufacture of Tesla cars in Shanghai. China, on the other hand, has complained about the need to maneuver its crewed space station module, Tianhe, to avoid Starlink satellites. The Chinese government views Starlink as serving potential military purposes, citing its use in Ukraine. Consequently, China aims to develop its own low Earth orbit communications megaconstellation.

While competitors such as OneWeb and Amazon’s Kuiper constellation plan to compete with Starlink, Musk’s Starlink remains the dominant player in the low Earth orbit satellite internet market.

As concerns over Elon Musk’s control of Starlink persist, Ukrainian officials have sought alternative suppliers to reduce reliance, though none have matched Starlink’s reach thus far.

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