SPACEX to shut off Starlink access for users outside availability areas by 30 April 2024. Read full story here below followed by a related post at X by Will Carter, Sudan Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
By Michael Kan
Dated April 16, 2024 - here is a full copy:
SpaceX to Shut Off Starlink Access for Users Outside Availability Areas
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The decision is upsetting users based in Africa, where internet speeds are often slow. But SpaceX says it needs to crack down as it waits for regulatory approval in the affected countries.
SpaceX is preparing to shut down Starlink for customers using the satellite internet 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 receive regulatory approval in several countries, including Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"If you are operating your Starlink Kit in an area other than areas designated as 'Available' on the Starlink Availability Map, we would like to remind you that this is in violation of the Starlink Terms," SpaceX wrote in the email.
SpaceX is preparing to shut down Starlink for customers using the satellite internet 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 receive regulatory approval in several countries, including Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"If you are operating your Starlink Kit in an area other than areas designated as 'Available' on the Starlink Availability Map, we would like to remind you that this is in violation of the Starlink Terms," SpaceX wrote in the email.
“If you have been using a 'Mobile - Regional' plan for more than two months outside of the country in which you ordered Starlink, you must either see Support FAQs to change your account country or return to the country in which your service was ordered. Otherwise, your service will be restricted,” the message says.
The email goes on to say SpaceX is working as quickly as possible to obtain regulatory approvals from local governments. Still, the decision is upsetting users in Africa, where internet speeds can often be painfully slow, depending on the location. “This is so frustrating,” wrote one Facebook user based in Sudan.
On Reddit, another added: "This is the worst news ever. My family and friends are in Sudan and there is a total communication blackout. [The] only source of internet is Starlink and now they do this." Meanwhile, others wonder if subscribing to the Starlink Roam international plan will allow them to bypass the coming restriction.
SpaceX’s email also suggests it’ll impose the restrictions on all users who’ve been operating Starlink outside the company’s availability zone. This could include Iran, where activists have been smuggling in Starlink units to help local residents receive access to an unfiltered version of the internet. In response, the Iranian government has been urging international regulators to force SpaceX to crack down.
SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, making it unclear if the upcoming restriction will expand to other continents. But so far, it appears the company only sent Tuesday's email to users based in Africa.
View full story: https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/151883/spacex-to-shut-off-starlink-access-for-users-outside-availability-areas
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HERE is a copy of a post at X by Will Carter, Sudan Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
Dear Mr @elonmusk,
@SpaceX’s service is a lifeline in warzones like #Sudan. Civilians all over can contact loved ones, emergency responders continue, and facts be told, all with the magic of your machinery. As we face famine, please reconsider. Best, W
https://twitter.com/WillCarter_NRC/status/1781394263541985682
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