Starlink will dominate space-based internet traffic in 2025, says Musk
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has projected that Starlink, his company's satellite internet service, will handle over 90% of all space-based internet traffic by next year. This claim was made in response to a post by Mario Nawfal on X. Nawfal highlighted that approximately 6,290 active Starlink satellites are currently operational worldwide out of 6,350 satellites in orbit. These satellites have the potential to offer connectivity in regions where traditional coverage is unreliable or non-existent.
Musk touts Starlink's global coverage
Musk emphasized the unique advantage of Starlink in his response to Nawfal. He stated, "Starlink is the only high-bandwidth Internet system that covers all of Earth. It will probably deliver over 90% of all space-based Internet traffic next year." The SpaceX brainchild aims to revolutionize global internet access, particularly in remote or underserved areas. The service is already providing connectivity to various parts of the world where traditional internet services are not available or unreliable.
It will deliver over 90% of internet traffic
Starlink's legal challenges in Brazil
Despite its ambitious goals, Starlink has recently encountered legal obstacles in Brazil. The country's Supreme Court has frozen the company's bank accounts amid an ongoing dispute with X, Musk's social media company. In response to this action, Musk criticized Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, labeling him a "dictator" and expressing concerns about the "illegal action" by Brazil's top court. Starlink continues to face some of the regulatory challenges as it expands its services globally.
Brazil's Supreme Court blocks X over non-compliance
Brazil's Supreme Court has also blocked X in the country after the social media app failed to appoint a legal representative. The judge ordered that X will remain blocked until all orders were complied with - this includes payment of more than $3 million in fines and having a legal representative within Brazil. The judge warned that anyone using VPN to access X would be subject to daily fines of R$50,000 (nearly ₹7.5 lakh).
Judge criticizes Musk's disregard for Brazilian laws
Judge Alexandre de Moraes criticized X for contributing to "an environment of total impunity and lawlessness in Brazilian social networks, including during the 2024 local elections." He also accused Musk of showing "total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country." This criticism underscores the tension between Musk's global ambitions and national regulatory frameworks.
