I've said this was coming for years now. As long as networks are using Earth-based nodes, there is no avoiding it. The only solution is an orbital, decentralized network that you can directly tap into. Maybe that is what Starlink will become, who knows.
You are in the small percentage of people who realize what is actually happening. For the vast majority of the others, I would say YES, monkeypox is adding to the fear porn in a calculated way, to help prompt the sheep to WANT this kind of oversight by the WHO.
IIRC the Iridium satellites are in too high an orbit for acceptable latency. Starlink are lower, and designed to be replaced regularly as they re-enter the atmosphere, at least that is my understanding.