Poland complains to Starlink over exclusion from European roaming zone

The Polish government has lodged a formal complaint with Starlink over the company's decision to exclude Poland from its European roaming zone. This exclusion leaves Polish users facing higher costs when traveling within Europe. Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides a "Roam" service that allows customers to use their connection abroad without extra charges, granted they remain within their designated region.

The European region includes 36 countries and territories, but Poland is conspicuously absent. The company has offered no explanation for this exclusion, though some reports have speculated that it may be due to terminals registered in Poland being used in Ukraine, a country also not included in Starlink's European "Roam" region.

Polish government ministers have strongly criticized the decision, with digital affairs minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stating that Starlink's actions are unfair and that the company should treat Polish customers on equal terms. He has appealed for SpaceX to restore equal treatment for Polish users. Meanwhile, foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has reignited a previous dispute with Musk over terminal provision to Ukraine, threatening to reconsider the $50 million annual payment Poland makes for Starlink services if the company continues to discriminate against Polish users.