I just had to update my numbers for a lecture, so here's your periodic reminder: Starlink is now 55% of ALL active satellites in orbit.
And given the recent news about that awful billionaire unilaterally deciding to cut of Starlink internet access to parts of the world whenever he wants to, this is extra important to share. Why did our governments effectively gift Low Earth Orbit to one awful dude? This is so bad.
@sundogplanets
The StarLink dominance, the growing dependence on it for mission critical services, and the adverse and unpredictable behavior by the company has prompted me to add "TechBro Consolidation" as a thing for scanning in strategic foresight work.
This is indeed both horrible, and to some degree predictable if somewhat unprecedented
Can we trust the data on climate change provided by his satellites?
Can we trust he isn't copying data streams on military operations over to Putin, Alwaleed bin Talal, Larry Ellison, or Mohammed bin Salman and his other investors?
Can we trust that the products he developed using government subsidies & taxpayer funded research will benefit the planet & democracy?
We should have long memories for folks who betray the nation
Because that is how capitalism works. It has worked like that since rich people stared fencing out common land in England and the courts uphold the fencing
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