07/28/2025
Elon Musk has quietly pulled off one of the biggest power moves in modern tech and space history. Through SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network, Musk now controls nearly two-thirds of all active satellites orbiting the Earth. That is 7,855 satellites out of the 12,149 currently in operation. No government, military, or organisation comes close to that level of control.
Starlink has become the world’s most dominant satellite internet provider, with over 5 million users across more than 100 countries. From remote villages to disaster zones, and even in active war zones, Starlink is becoming the go-to option for fast, reliable internet. And this reach is only growing. On July 8 alone, SpaceX launched 28 more satellites into orbit as part of its rapid expansion strategy.
The real jaw-dropper here is not just the number of satellites but what this means for global communication. Musk now controls the infrastructure that could shape how billions access information, work, and connect. Experts are already calling this the start of a new kind of digital empire, one that literally surrounds the planet.
While many celebrate the innovation and access Starlink provides, others are raising questions about space traffic, satellite congestion, and the geopolitical implications of one man having more control in orbit than entire nations.
Elon Musk’s ambitions were never small. But with this level of power above Earth, he is not just changing the internet. He is redefining global influence from space.