Space emerges as new front in great power competition, officials warn

At the Munich Cyber Security Conference, speakers warned that space is becoming a primary arena of competition where civilian, commercial, and military systems are deeply intertwined, emphasizing the fragility of satellites and the systemic risk from undersea cable disruption; Rivada Space Networks proposed an “outernet” satellite architecture designed to operate independently of terrestrial gateways to maintain communications during large-scale outages. The discussion highlighted lagging diplomatic guardrails (e.g., no U.S.–China hotline) and a shift from prevention to resilience, noting that disruption could come from missile tests, cyber intrusions, or sabotage.