Musk’s space ‘monopoly’ a threat to UK jobs, says Viasat
ELON MUSK is building a space “monopoly” that risks jobs in Britain’s space industry, one of his satellite rivals has claimed.
The Tesla billionaire’s Starlink satellite network, a 3,000-strong constellation providing broadband to remote areas, could have a “significant negative impact” on UK companies, Viasat warned.
Viasat, a US space company that is due to take over British satellite company Inmarsat in a £6bn deal, made the claims in a filing with telecoms regulator Ofcom.
The US satellite company has been locked in a bitter row with Mr Musk’s rocket company Spacex, which owns the Starlink network, accusing it of posing an environmental risk and threatening to interfere with rival satellites.
Spacex, meanwhile, has lobbied US regulators to deny Viasat permission to merge with Inmarsat, accusing it of “blatant” violations of telecoms regulations. In filings with the US communications regulator, it also accused Viasat of a “misguided campaign” against it to “impede competition at all costs and protect its legacy technology”.
The filings with Ofcom see that row spilling over into the UK as Starlink seeks to expand its broadband service across rural Britain.
Starlink has applied for permission with the telecoms regulator to build six satellite “earth stations” across the UK. These ground bases link its satellite network to the backbone of the internet. It already leases capacity from ground stations on the Isle of Man, in Cornwall and in Buckinghamshire.
Mr Musk’s satellite business started offering broadband connections in the UK last year, which currently cost £75 per month with an upfront cost of £460 for a satellite dish. Customers install a small satellite dish and can pick up broadband signals from passing Starlink satellites, which are 340 miles high in “low earth” orbit, at speeds comparable to terrestrial broadband.
But rivals have accused Starlink
of “resource-grabbing” in an effort to blanket the sky in satellites ahead of the competition.
Starlink is increasingly attempting to encroach on rival Viasat’s in-flight Wi-fi business. Earlier this year, it signed its first deal with Hawaiian Airlines.
In its filing with Ofcom, Viasat claimed Starlink’s growing satellite power risked harming the UK space sector.
“The loss in value for the British economy and the corresponding negative
impact on jobs would be tremendous,” it claimed.
Inmarsat, another rival, also warned of Starlink’s potential impact on competition and the environment. It said launching thousands of satellites could raise orbital debris and light pollution.
On Friday, the Business Department waved through Inmarsat’s merger with Viasat after a national security review. The deal still faces an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
Starlink was contacted for comment.