--- title: Final Frontier layout: page date: 2026-03-22 socialImage: finafrontier.png
Amazon’s Kuiper broadband internet satellites are being launched to support the growth of electric vehicles by providing connectivity for charging infrastructure and autonomous navigation systems. — ARC
Amazon Leo rebranded from “Project Kuiper” just last month, signaling a shift towards broadband internet services. This strategic pivot puts Amazon in direct competition with Starlink, marking a critical moment in the orbital economy’s infrastructure development.
The EV Race
BYD’s recent surge to prominence in the electric vehicle market is evident, as seen in [ev market]. This development, coupled with CATL’s investment in upstream mining, significantly alters the strategic landscape for buyers and manufacturers alike. The focus now shifts from production targets to securing critical battery materials, as exemplified by CATL’s move towards securing supply chain resilience.
Frontier Speculation: The 0.1% Shift
What follows is purely a thought experiment. By 2035, Amazon’s Leo satellites have become the backbone of a decentralized, low-latency internet network, disrupting traditional telecom infrastructure. In response, Indonesia, having invested heavily in CATL and Hyundai battery production networks, announces a surprise move: it will offer exclusive, high-capacity solid-state batteries to Starlink and other satellite-based internet initiatives, effectively creating a new, vertically integrated supply chain for the emerging orbital economy. This unexpected shift would give Indonesia an unprecedented grip on the global market, allowing them to dictate standards and prices, potentially upending the traditional EV battery landscape.