| Article 18.1 or the ITU Radio Regulations (a binding treaty) states that > No transmitting station may be established or operated by a private person or
by any enterprise without a licence issued in an appropriate form and in conformity with the provisions of these Regulations by or on behalf of the government of the country to which the station in question is subject (however, see Nos. 18.2, 18.8 and 18.11). SpaceX cannot help establish, or help operate, these ground stations. Technically could they sell them in another country? Maybe, I don't think the ITU would accept that considering that have to have control over the software for routing purposes, and that they know exactly where the ground station is because of beam forming. The Outer Space Treaty article 3 also states that > States Parties to the Treaty shall carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international co- operation and understanding. (Later incorporated against private entities in a different article). It would not be much of a stretch to consider this a violation of this article as well. It is slightly less clear cut than I remember though. |
While radio licenses will probably prevent them from operating in geographically large countries like Russia, information can seep in through regions several hundred kilometers away from the border.
Take a look at this map representing current coverage: https://satellitemap.space/
Belarus is covered by a single satellite.