Geopolitics Blocking Satellite Coverage: Consultancy

Satellite operators seeking regulatory OK to operate in other nations are facing intensifying geopolitical tensions, with governments increasingly concerned with national security and disruption to local telcos, Valour Consultancy wrote Tuesday. It said SpaceX's Starlink and OneWeb are particularly susceptible to those tensions. They and other low earth orbit networks face greater regulatory scrutiny than geostationary orbit satellites, which can result in operation delays or denials, Valour said. Like Russia and China, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia also have shown reluctance to approve Western-affiliated networks, it said, adding that Amazon's Kuiper might end up facing similar hurdles.