TPRC 2024: The 52nd Research Conference on Communications, Information and Inter

Link to paper

Abstract:
Advancements in most information communication technologies are commonly assessed based on their potential impacts on global power dynamics. Notably, the emergence of mega satellite constellations is perceived as a strategic investment, serving dual purposes: strengthening a nation's presence in outer space and enhancing its influence and control over the critical infrastructure that supports the global Internet. The escalating global tensions related to cybersecurity and the subsequent initiatives aimed at asserting cyber sovereignty drive the geopolitical competition among spacefaring major powers to expand their space-based Internet infrastructure. However, this endeavor comes at a cost, as the proliferation of satellite constellations expands the environmental impact of Internet connectivity into outer space. It is crucial that the drive to assert dominance in Earth's orbits, already heavily congested, is tempered with an awareness of the need to preserve a sustainable orbital environment for the benefit of future generations. This research analyses whether major spacefaring nations' recent law and policy initiatives prioritise the geopolitics of Internet and national security goals rather than environmentally responsible and sustainable governance frameworks for outer space, particularly regarding the emerging mega-satellite constellations.