[News Terms] 'Starlink' That Sparked Transnational Controversy

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, announced that Starlink, which he promised to provide to the Gaza Strip where communications were cut off due to Israel's expansion of ground operations, is a satellite communication service that launches satellites into low Earth orbit to provide internet access.

Low Earth orbit satellite communication refers to communication services that utilize small satellites located at a low altitude of about 200 to 2,000 km from the Earth. Satellites are classified according to their orbit as low Earth orbit (200 to 2,000 km from Earth), medium Earth orbit (between low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit), geostationary orbit (about 35,800 km), and high Earth orbit (above 36,000 km). Among these, about 86% of the artificial satellites currently orbiting the Earth are in low Earth orbit. Because they are close to the Earth, they are greatly influenced by gravity, resulting in very fast orbital speeds.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 23 Starlink satellites.
[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

It can also compensate for the limitations of terrestrial communication services, which experience shadow zones depending on geographical conditions. The entry barrier for communication satellites is lower than that for optical cables, and services can be provided in aviation and maritime areas where cable communication infrastructure is difficult to install. Therefore, communication services can be used stably even in disaster situations such as fires or earthquakes.

The power of low Earth orbit satellite communication was proven during the Russia-Ukraine war. When Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February last year and destroyed ground base stations, Musk sent about 20,000 Starlink devices, including dish antennas, to Ukraine to restore internet access.

According to the report "The Advent of the Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Era" published by Jung Eui-hoon, a researcher at Eugene Investment & Securities, Starlink, first unveiled by Musk in 2015, began its first beta test in the United States in October 2020 and has since been providing services in 50 countries worldwide. In Asia, services started in Iran in September last year, Japan in October, and the Philippines in February this year, with preparations underway to launch services in South Korea as well.

As the service area expands, the number of subscribers is also rapidly increasing. The number of subscribers, which was 145,000 in January last year, surpassed 1 million by the end of the same year. However, there is concern about the phenomenon of Starlink service speeds dropping due to the rapid expansion of service areas and the sharp increase in users.

Meanwhile, Israel has strongly opposed Musk's offer to provide Starlink to relief organizations in the Gaza Strip, saying it "will be used by terrorists." Shlomo Karhi, Israel's Minister of Communications, stated that if Musk installs Starlink in the Gaza Strip, "we will use all means to fight back," and pointed out that "Hamas will use (Starlink) for terrorist activities."