Musk's Conundrum with SpaceX military contract and Starshield in Taiwan

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4 points·goblin89··9 comments

Starshield can operate in Taiwan if the US military wants it to.

If SpaceX wants Starshield to operate in Taiwan, it would. If DoD wants it to, it means nothing unless they convince SpaceX, which apparently has a conflict of interest through its CEO’s other businesses, or force it legally.

Taiwan has refused to budge on licensing rules. And Musk isn't the type to share.

If the DOD wants SpaceX to operate there regardless all they have to do is ask

It sounds like SpaceX wanted to make Starshield & Starlink a bundle deal. To fulfill the DoD contract, they could only operate military Starshield and not consumer Srarlink. They even use different satellites as far as I know.

Starshield is a contract vehicle. Not a product.

The receivers are the same.

i.e it's going to be starlink but only the military can use it from your perspective.

But the same sats, same wireless bands and everything.

I think it's convenient for both Taiwan and SpaceX so nothing public will change

Starshield uses its own purpose-built satellites with different capabilities compared to Starlink.

Starshield is a contract vehicle. Not just a constellation

I don’t see why it has to follow the same rules as consumer Starlink, unless SpaceX wants to make an extra buck by making it a bundle.

Oh I agree. But it allows both parties to save face

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