Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite constellation violates international law while blurring the line between commercial and military technology, Iranian and Russian diplomats told a UN meeting.
Although Starlink is technically illegal in Iran, an estimated 50,000 terminals have been smuggled into the country in recent years. (Representative photo/Bloomberg)Starlink’s “illegal operation” in Iran violates the country’s sovereignty and amounts to “unauthorized military use of a commercial satellite mega-star”, read a statement by the Islamic Republic at a UN scientific meeting in Vienna on Monday night.
Kremlin representatives suggested that SpaceX’s network could violate a provision of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by the United States and more than 100 other countries, that requires satellite operators to take into account the interests of other space actors.
The Russian statement added that large networks operated by non-governmental organizations “hardly correspond to the long-term sustainability interests of outer space activities and space use.”
Criticism at a meeting of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space shows how Starlink is promoting geopolitics as usual.
SpaceX, which operates a network of about 9,600 satellites, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Starlink service has become a vital communication link for Ukrainians fighting against Russian aggression, as well as for Iranian opposition forces who took to the streets last month.
Although Starlink is technically illegal in Iran, an estimated 50,000 terminals have been smuggled into the country in recent years. These connections allow protesters to coordinate activities even as authorities black out other forms of communication.
The Vienna meeting is not the only UN forum where Iran has fought SpaceX. Tehran has also argued to the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Agency for Digital Technology, that the network violates rules prohibiting the use of telecom services not authorized by national governments.
Russia is demanding international negotiations aimed at limiting the number of new satellites as well as clarifying the military use of satellite frequencies registered for commercial purposes.
According to Russia’s statement, “the use of the mega-constellation is focused in the hands of private companies and is not in line with the interests of the long-term sustainability of space.”
SpaceX is currently consulting with banks before launching an initial public offering that is expected to raise $50 billion.
