Implications of Internet Satellite Constellations

How the Future of the Earth’s Internet Will Be Orbiting It

Photo by SpaceX on Unsplash

Introduction

The ability to have a widely accessible internet is one of the profound impacts a developing economy can have. Improvement in telecommunication, job markets, education, awareness of local issues, and supply chains are all positive externalities to the adoption of internet connection. However, nations that are essentially starting from scratch when it comes to online infrastructure, find themselves struggling to get the ball rolling. Though this access brings many benefits, the upfront cost of traditional connectivity is simply too high to be considered practical. What if there was a way to bring a decentralized network of low-cost internet to developing countries? What if it could circumvent the agendas of big telecoms and government bodies but was also reliable enough to be an economic foundation for the future? Satellite internet and more specifically satellite constellation networks are a viable candidate to accomplish this.¹

Current Use

Traditional satellite internet really started in the early 90s however it was an extremely costly investment. Companies like Microsoft, Motorola, Lockheed Martin, and GE sunk billions of dollars into largely unsuccessful attempts to set up and monetize the low-orbit consumer satellite sector.² This had finally begun to turn around in the mid-2000s, as advancements in bandwidth and speed made the business model more practical. Presently, big telecoms such as Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Sprint have a near-oligopoly on US internet service. These companies spend billions lobbying legislative bodies to prevent oversight and competition.⁵ Internet service incumbents face a serious problem for the fate of their market. A bold new approach called Internet Satellite Constellations. At the forefront of this innovation are Starlink, Amazon, and Boeing. Starlink is a consumer satellite program being developed by Elon Musk’s space manufacturer SpaceX. Since 2015 they have been researching, designing, and testing test-flight prototypes to potentially solve the problem of widely available internet access. Similar to this is Project Kuiper, which Amazon pledged $10 Billion to in July 2020. It’s unclear whether this forming space race is going to be Telecoms 2.0 or something different, but as long as the bottom line remains on making internet access universally available then it would be prudent to incentivize more innovation in this field.

Security

As with most systems, satellites are vulnerable to hackers and security breaches. In fact, satellite cyber defenses are routinely noted by agencies such as the NRO and NSA as some of the most at-risk assets to the national security of the United States.⁶ The hacking however has very little to do with the satellites in orbit, as the point of vulnerability is on the ground. The reward for breaking these systems is the wealth of information offered by obtaining their feed. These are prime targets for bad actors to abuse. Though the security stakes may not be as high as spacecraft for spying, weather, or missile defense, consumer internet exposure could still cause visceral harm. Vulnerabilities such as the economy, personal information, and backdoors into more unprotected systems could all be open for exposure if proper redundancies aren’t in place. As important to the security of the system, is who controls it. A remote network that allows the owner to globally send or receive data at their discretion is a powerful tool. Having a responsible party as well as proper oversight will be vital to the success, stability, and security of these constellations. No one person or entity should have the complete authority of the satellites. For a truly decentralized network to be better than telecom oligopolies, then reinforcing security, fairness, and oversight is of critical importance.

Ethical and Social Implications

Satellite constellations could be mutually beneficial for developed and developing countries alike. However, this does not discount the hurdles of getting there. The largest hoop to get through is the negative impact on space and scientific observation. Despite only being the size of the table, constellations such as the ones Starlink is proposing, have the potential to reflect, distort, and corrupt astronomic viewing ability. Studies commissioned by the European Organisation for Astronomical Research showed that during long-exposure viewing during dawn and dusk, observation could be affected by as much as 3%, which is no small margin.² Ground-based astronomy is still the most cost-effective method of tracking the sky and estimates for when we have to phase out orbital astronomically range into many decades into the future. Either Starlink will have to improve their design or ground-based astronomy will have to adapt, either way, change is coming the way we operate the orbital space industry.

Future Use

25 years ago satellite constellations would have been an expensive light show with no benefits, the economics simply couldn’t work. Today, the cost of private rocket launches has dropped significantly due to reusability, better storage, and more efficient fuel usage. At the beginning of the year, Starlink had already launched 180, by the end of September they estimated to have 600 active units in the network. By the mid-2020s the goal is to have 12,000 nodes.⁴ At this pace, one can only imagine where the industry will be in 10, 20, or 50 years.

Conclusion

Satellite internet constellations possess profound potential in the impact they can provide the users with its access and availability. However, you can’t ignore the negative consequences of security and astronomical visibility. Innovators in the field should proceed cautiously. Yes, the benefits are there, but not without a struggle. At the end of the day, for this technology to truly be innovative and useful, it’s creators must focus on who it’s for, the people.

1. Hamre, J. (2017). Challenges We Face in the National Security Space Domain. Hampton Roads International Security Quarterly,14. https://search-proquest-com.mutex.gmu.edu/docview/1869840996?accountid=14541
2. The impact of satellite constellations on astronomical observations. (2020, Mar 09). UPI Space Daily https://search-proquest-com.mutex.gmu.edu/docview/2373977173?accountid=14541
3. Clark, S. (2020, Jan 09). Spacewatch: SpaceX launches 60 more satellites into Starlink constellation. The Guardian https://search-proquest-com.mutex.gmu.edu/docview/2334874807?accountid=14541
4. Staff Writers, f. L. (2018, Jul 25). New satellite constellations will soon fill the sky. UPI Space Daily https://search-proquest-com.mutex.gmu.edu/docview/2075452964?accountid=14541
5. Research and Markets: United States Telecommunications Market 2015–2025 — Analysis and Outlook of Mobile, Fixed Line and Broadband Sectors. (2015, Sep 09). Business Wire https://search-proquest-com.mutex.gmu.edu/docview/1710253135?accountid=14541
6. Ryan, J. (2010). From Military Networks to the Global Internet. Reaktion Books Ltd.