Starlink threatens the military regimes.
In countries with oppressive military regimes, the people have one-sided information. Simultaneously, the propaganda machine (the PM) pumps out data feeds to coerce citizens to love their almighty leader. One ruler government will do everything it can to manipulate the hearts and minds of the population, conforming kids to obey the hierarchical system from the first day of school. Citizens will never hear the misdeeds of many connected individuals due to censorship. Once Starlink circumvents the infrastructure layer of the internet, the military regimes lose control of the flow of information completely, including their capacity to shut it all down.
As the propaganda machine will have it, citizens mostly see and hear the things that accomplish the objectives of the upper echelon. In this scenario, the powerful and the rich intentionally sweep their misdeeds under the carpet. They bide their time with the great propaganda machine. When the old regime controls the internet, Starlink will forever be banned because it would open new channels for the masses and reveal greener pastures on the other side.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a new satellite-based internet service that promises to bring high-speed, affordable internet to rural masses, regardless of their location. Within nations where oligarchs rule with clenched fists, satellite internet is a necessary innovation needed for independence from state-controlled networks.
Starlink would decrease the dreadful results of military regimes.
In countries with military dictatorships, the government controls the use of all communication frequencies. Since the dawn of the internet, the infrastructure has been under their control. The point now is they can shut down the internet any time they need.
Myanmar’s current uprising is a sample of how Starlink would be so disruptive. Satellite interconnectivity in second-world places would impartially tip the balance of power. In Burma (Myanmar’s more renowned title), the government has effectively pulled the plug on internet access. It’s now a virtual blackout, smothering the country and scattering resistance forces in disarray. What could 50 million citizens do without their typical access routes of communication? No phones, no internet, only government broadcasting through radio and TV. In such chaotic times is when we need other humans the most. For the same reason, the military regime will do whatever it can to retain total control of communication bandwidth. The old infrastructure has made it too easy for dictators to pull the plug, while Starlink could disarm their ultimate weapon.
The grim circumstances unraveling in Burma have some of us in a perpetual state of disbelief. But to think of it, wars and revolutions seem to be the new trend this decade. In SE Asia, we ought to prepare for the worst. The free world leaders in innovative technology should lend a hand to places trying their best to be involved in the global economic arena. Let it not be said we ignored the pleas of the less fortunate humans whose dire circumstances are the cause of kleptocratic regimes who have all the guns.
Military dictatorships are prone to civil disobedience, hence uprising.
A military government is a country administered by mighty forces of guns and economic manipulation, where censorship is par for the course and widely accepted because there have been no alternatives. Military dictatorships are countries like Egypt, Thailand, Burma, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Venezuela. This list is longer with autocratic regimes like absolute monarchs and one-party governments.
Military governments are controlled by Ogliarchs who could afford to employ the Generals or by Generals whose desire is to become an Oligarch. Once the system has organized its infrastructure of power-hoarding elements, they spin all types of propaganda to influence the people. To be humble and love their nation, revere their God, and honor their ruler for the greater good. At the same time, in the private palaces and jets, the sounds of SMS bank notifications for deposits chime on.
An autocratic system of rule is notoriously extractive of the nation's resources. It's almost as if the Oligarchs think the citizens are blind. But most regimes do it blatantly and flaunt their loots publically-- a General with a private chateau in the Alps, a police colonel with several dozen Ferraris. It's because massive earnings from the nation's GDP compensate those greedy leaders and their network of conspirators. When natives in such countries get fed up, it usually takes nothing short of a revolution to topple the corrupt regime.
How Starlink disrupts.
Starlink gives internet access to the people in the vicinity of the ground stations, used just like your wifi-routers without the wires connecting your terminal to the nodes on the streets. Like a wifi-router with a satellite dish that aims your internet signal to the sky. That communication signal circumvents internet infrastructure in your locality. Because of this, Big Brother can spy on you no longer.
Yearning for more functionality from Starlink.
If only we could do without the ground station and connect directly from our phones and laptops— the ground station is bulky and not mobile enough. To give access to the masses, we need a chip embedded in our cell phones instead. Without something to that effect, Starlink's current options for connectivity will need to overcome impenetrable barriers posed by military governments. Dictators will not allow usage of Starlink ground stations in the country they claim their own. Looking at the Starlink map on their website, most of the world is not ready for this innovation, like how unprepared we are for Cryptocurrencies.
In nations where the government wants complete control of their flock, Starlink may forever be “pending regulatory approval.” To overcome this, the global population needs phones, tablets, USB antennas, and laptops specially equipped to link up to the network of satellites. Once this is a reality, humanity will have taken a giant leap. At the same time, we could embrace this blessing by being more proactive in keeping our governments accountable to We the people. With impartial connectivity to Starlink, dictators will at least think twice before their next coup de’tat against their people. Simultaneously true decentralization can happen, while the blockchains would avail themselves to all of humanity in fairness and scale.
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I look forward to the future because of innovation that's geared toward decentralization and freedom. We're making headway, but there are lots of barriers, like war and oppression. There are things I fear ahead too like what's happening in Burma can also happen in neighboring countries like Thailand where I live. If bully dictators can simply round up their military and hold the nation hostage, we want Elon on our side. Starlink would level the playing field if many of us could obtain it before a crisis erupts. I also worry crypto would be rendered useless without internet access, so satellite internet would definitely be a safety net.