Some researches insist that all our internet and such is done through underground and undersea cables and cell phone communications are transmitted through the air via cell-phone towers, etc., not satellites orbiting the earth.

But if they do use satellites suspended from balloons, these kind can go up to 100,000 ft in altitude and can stay aloft indefinitely with their tech and solar panels. I doubt any of us could see them at that height, so there could be a lot of them. These one or two that are visible may be falling too low due to a defect or malfunction.