Space Commons Observatory

Wartime Emergency and the Quest for Autonomy. For Ukraine, LEO satellites are a survival tool. Following the 2022 invasion, Starlink became the backbone of military and civilian resilience — but geofencing restrictions in occupied territories exposed the cost of single-provider dependency.

Executive Lobbying and the Quest for Autonomy. Brazil is Starlink's second-largest global market, with 250,000 active users and 85% annual growth in 2025. Despite strong urban penetration, only 22% of Brazilians meet 'meaningful connectivity' standards.

The "Red Carpet" and the Local ISP Tension. In 2024, Starlink officially launched in Indonesia following years of personal lobbying by President Joko Widodo. With 12,548 villages still signal blank spots, Starlink has instead entered urban markets where connectivity already exists.

Strategic Alliances and Foreign Ownership Exceptions. Malaysia granted Starlink approval to operate as a 100% foreign-owned entity in July 2023, an exception to the standard 49% foreign equity cap for license holders — following a direct video call between PM Anwar Ibrahim and Elon Musk.

Connectivity as a Disaster Resilience Lifeline. Fiji, an archipelago of 332 islands, views LEO technology as a "game-changer" for its maritime communities. Licensing was framed as a necessity for disaster resilience, particularly given the vulnerability of submarine cables.

The Most Advanced Model, the Deepest Affordability Crisis. Over 19,000 terrestrial fiber cuts in early 2025 made satellite connectivity a strategic necessity. Nigeria has since adopted the most advanced sovereignty protections of any studied country — yet hardware costs 4.5 months of minimum wage.