Space as Critical Infrastructure: Securing Satellite Communications in a Hostile World

Introduction: From Utility to Critical Infrastructure

For decades, satellites were seen as niche enablers — powering niche services like TV broadcast, GPS, and maritime connectivity. That perception is now outdated. Today, satellite communications (satcoms) underpin nearly every sector of the global economy, from aviation safety and banking to military command-and-control.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, one of the first moves was a cyberattack on Viasat’s KA-SAT network, disabling terminals across Europe. The event highlighted a new reality: space is no longer a neutral domain — it is a frontline of conflict.

Governments are now designating satellite systems as critical infrastructure, alongside energy grids, water supply, and telecom networks. This designation brings with it new responsibilities for resilience, security, and sovereignty.

Why Satellites Matter More Than Ever

1. Military Operations

   • Satcoms provide command, control, and intelligence links.

   • Without satellite links, modern militaries lose situational awareness.

2. Global Trade & Finance

   • Timing signals from GNSS are essential for stock exchanges, payment networks, and logistics.

   • Disruption cascades into financial instability.

3. Telecom Backbone

   • Satellites backhaul data for rural and remote regions.

   • Provide resilience against terrestrial cable outages.

4. Disaster Response

   • Satellites restore connectivity when earthquakes, floods, or wildfires take terrestrial networks offline.

Satellites are no longer peripheral — they are the hidden nervous system of the global economy.

The Threat Landscape

1. Cyberattacks

• Vulnerabilities in ground stations, user terminals, and supply chains.

• Examples: Viasat KA-SAT hack (2022), alleged Chinese probing of US satellites.

• Growing risk from AI-driven cyber weapons.

2. Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weapons

• Kinetic ASAT tests (Russia, China, India) demonstrate ability to physically destroy satellites.

• Creates orbital debris, endangering entire constellations.

3. Electronic Warfare (EW)

• Jamming and spoofing of satellite signals, especially GNSS.

• NATO documented jamming in Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

4. Space Debris & Congestion

• Over 10,000 satellites expected by 2030.

• Collisions or debris events could cripple key constellations.

5. Geopolitical Risks

• Reliance on foreign-owned constellations raises sovereignty issues.

• Example: Ukraine’s dependence on Starlink, with debates over military use.

Regional Perspectives

United States

• The Space Force and CISA classify satellites as critical infrastructure.

• Investments in resilient architectures: proliferated LEO constellations, laser crosslinks, and redundancy.

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is extending best practices from terrestrial to orbital domains.

• Starlink’s role in Ukraine showcased both strength and risk — highlighting reliance on private companies.

Europe

• EU developing the IRIS² constellation for sovereign secure connectivity.

• ESA working on debris mitigation and collision-avoidance systems.

• GNSS resilience is key: Galileo offers redundancy to US GPS, but remains vulnerable to jamming.

• Emphasis on dual-use governance: commercial satellites must meet national security standards.

Middle East

• Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) investing in satellite capacity for smart cities, defence, and national resilience.

• UAE Space Agency and Saudi Space Commission prioritise digital sovereignty and critical infrastructure protection.

• Regional conflicts highlight vulnerabilities — GNSS interference in Gulf waters has impacted aviation and shipping.

• Partnerships with OneWeb, Thuraya, and national initiatives are growing.

Securing Satellites as Critical Infrastructure

1. Cyber Hardening

   • Enforce encryption at all layers (uplink, downlink, control).

   • Adopt zero-trust principles for ground segment.

   • Secure supply chains against backdoors and tampering.

2. Architectural Resilience

   • Proliferated constellations (hundreds of small satellites) reduce single points of failure.

   • Laser interlinks avoid ground-based vulnerabilities.

3. Regulatory Frameworks

   • Establish international norms against kinetic ASAT weapons.

   • Enforce deorbit and debris mitigation standards.

4. Public-Private Partnerships

   • Governments must integrate commercial satellites into national resilience planning.

   • Operators need clear compensation frameworks for hostile attacks.

5. Alternative Backups

   • Terrestrial backups for GNSS (e.g., eLORAN).

   • Integration of multiple satcom providers for redundancy.

Board-Level Implications

For telecom executives and boards, the designation of satellites as critical infrastructure carries major implications:

• Risk Exposure: Boards must recognise satellites as part of enterprise risk management.

• Vendor Due Diligence: Contracts must include security obligations, redundancy guarantees, and SLAs.

• Investment Decisions: Shareholders increasingly demand disclosure of space-related risks.

• Geopolitical Awareness: Boards must monitor alliances, sanctions, and export controls.

The Road Ahead

The future of satellite resilience will depend on international cooperation and technological innovation. Expect to see:

• Growth of military-commercial hybrid constellations.

• AI-driven threat detection for orbital systems.

• Development of secure-by-design satellite architectures.

• Expansion of regional sovereign constellations to avoid reliance on foreign networks.

Conclusion

Space is no longer a silent backdrop — it is critical infrastructure at the heart of geopolitics and commerce. The Viasat hack in Ukraine was only a preview of what future conflicts may bring.

For governments, operators, and enterprises, the priority is clear: secure satellites as rigorously as terrestrial assets. In the 21st century, resilience is measured not only in cables and towers, but in orbits above our heads.