SpaceX is preparing to shut down Starlink for consumer satellite web service in countries outside its official “availability” zones.
On Tuesday, the company sent an email to users in Africa, where Starlink is still waiting to get regulatory approval in several countries, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“If you use your Starlink kit on a domain other than the spaces designated as ‘available’ on the Starlink availability map, we would like to remind you that this is a violation of Starlink’s terms,” SpaceX wrote in the email.
The company plans to shut down access to affected users on April 30. Users “will no longer be able to connect to the internet to access their Starlink account, where they will be able to make updates to their account,” the message adds.
The email comes days after the Zimbabwean government asked SpaceX to halt any unauthorized use of Starlink in the country until the company receives full approval of the license.
SpaceX is gearing up to fill a gap that consumers have long used to access Starlink in markets where it hasn’t officially launched: Starlink Roam, which emerged as a web solution for users but works in parts around the world, including Africa. , in Tuesday’s email, SpaceX notes that those “Mobile – Regional” plans are for transient transits, not for permanent use at a given location.
“If you have been using a ‘Mobile – Regional’ plan for more than two months outside of the country in which you requested Starlink, you will need to refer to the FAQ to replace the country of your account or return to the country page in which your service was requested. Otherwise, your service will be restricted,” the message read.
The email goes on to state that SpaceX is running as temporarily as possible to download regulatory approvals from local governments. Still, the move annoys users in Africa, where internet speeds can sometimes be incredibly slow, depending on location. frustrating,” wrote one Facebook user based in Sudan.
On Reddit, someone else added: “This is the worst news ever. My circle of family and friends is in Sudan and there is a general breakdown in communication. [The] only source of the internet is Starlink and now they do that. “, others wonder if subscribing to the foreign Starlink Roam plan will allow them to avoid the next restriction.
SpaceX’s email also suggests that it will impose restrictions on all users using Starlink outside of the company’s availability zone. This may be the case with Iran, where militants have smuggled Starlink equipment to help local citizens access an unfiltered edition of the internet. In response, the Iranian government has suggested foreign regulators force SpaceX to crack down.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment, so it’s unclear if the upcoming restriction will be extended to other continents. But so far, it appears the company has only sent Tuesday’s email to users based in Africa.
I’ve been at PCMag since October 2017, covering a wide diversity of topics, aggregating client electronics, cybersecurity, social media, netrunning, and gaming. Prior to working at PCMag, I was a foreign correspondent in Beijing for more than five years, covering the tech scene in Asia.
I’ve been at PCMag since October 2017, covering a wide diversity of topics, aggregating client electronics, cybersecurity, social media, netrunning, and gaming. Prior to working at PCMag, I was a foreign correspondent in Beijing for more than five years, covering the tech scene in Asia.