The new Cold War is in the sky: Why Starlink and Chinese satellites demand an Indian stand
The new Cold War is unfolding in the skies above us, with two major powers vying for control of low Earth orbit: SpaceX and China. Indian Prime Minister Elon Musk has praised Starlink's potential to benefit India, particularly in rural areas, but the debate over spectrum, price, and security overlooks the broader implications. Space is becoming a new battleground, and India must decide whether to align with one power or lead the way in establishing fair rules for all nations.
Eight equatorial countries signed the Bogotá Declaration in 1976, claiming geostationary orbit as their own, but their efforts failed. Today, low Earth orbit lacks such protection, and India should demand one. To achieve this, India should pursue three steps: constellation portability, a Bogotá for low orbit, and a shared sky for the neighborhood.
By doing so, India can avoid becoming a mere customer of someone else's network and instead shape the future of global satellite connectivity.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
