Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, continues to operate in multiple unauthorized regions despite the company's previous warnings that its satellite internet service would be shut down by May 1 in areas lacking proper licensing, Bloomberg reported.
SpaceX, Starlink's parent company, reportedly sent emails last month to customers in several African countries indicating that its roaming service would be restricted in regions where it was illegal to operate.
Nevertheless, Adam Mohamed, a resident of El-Fasher in conflict-ridden Sudan, was able to conduct an interview via a Starlink connection on Wednesday. He explained, “I'm currently talking to you through the Starlink connection; it's the only way to connect people, especially those who have fled the war.”
The emails Starlink sent to its customers came after Bloomberg's investigation found that Musk's satellites were being used in several countries without proper authorization, including regions under repressive regimes. The report from the Wire's investigation highlighted the ease with which Starlink kits could be smuggled and their widespread availability on the black market, raising concerns about the company's control over a system with significant national security implications.
Reportedly, following the Bloomberg investigation and a similar report in The Wall Street Journal, Starlink issued notices to users stating that they will no longer be able to connect to the internet starting April 30, 2024 if they continue to use the service in unauthorized regions. However, an online survey of almost 100 Starlink customers in South Africa found that 73 percent were still able to access the service after the cut-off date.
While some Starlink users in Sudan reported service disruptions, others said they were still able to access the internet without any problems. Manuel Ntumba, an African geospatial, governance and risk expert based in New York, indicated that Starlink can implement virtual barriers to block unauthorized users, but this requires cooperation with local regulatory authorities.
According to the report, Starlink explained in the emails sent to users that its roaming services are for “temporary travel and transit,” and not for permanent use in unlicensed locations. The company advised customers who had accessed the service outside their original jurisdiction for more than two months to either change the country of their account or return to the location where the service was originally ordered.
(With input from Bloomberg)
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Published: May 2, 2024 6:26 PM IST