Will the future world order be determined by who controls low Earth orbit?
Amid Starlink’s ability to service conflict zones, Chinese article warns of ‘new form of power’ to allow or cut connectivity in real time
Yet, within hours of the attacks, connectivity began to return – not from paralysed ground infrastructure, but from space.
It was not merely a case of business operation, observers said, but an episode that underscored the disruptive potential and strategic implications of LEO satellite networks in future warfare and defence building.
03:54
The race for the moon’s south pole: can China beat Nasa’s 2028 deadline?
For countries such as China, the growing role of LEO constellations as critical communications infrastructure during crises raises concerns – about information sovereignty, operational dependence, access to orbital resources and control over connectivity – as satellite networks are increasingly seen as a potential geopolitical game changer.