Starlink Adds New Outside Region Fee to Combat Unauthorized Users [CNET]
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Starlink has long battled resellers who purchase Starlink kits in supported countries, import them to unsupported countries, and sell them there. In some cases, the resellers activate the product before sale and act as a middleman to help customers pay their monthly premiums. Such kits are also subject to the outside region fee.
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To avoid the fee, users need to activate the Starlink in the same region where they ordered it.
Fee is the latest in Starlink’s battle with resellers
There is a global black market of sorts for Starlink devices. One of the reasons for that is Starlink’s coverage, which spans nearly the entire globe. The company has already launched over 6,000 satellites into orbit with more coming in the future. That helps people get the Internet in places where traditional ISPs don’t go.
Read more: Starlink vs. T-Mobile Home Internet: Speeds, Pricing and Availability
Local governments and laws prevent Starlink from being supported everywhere. Using Starlink in some areas is still off-limits until deals can be put in place between Starlink and each region’s government. But that hasn’t stopped people from those unsupported regions from obtaining Starlink.
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Starlink is trying to get regulatory permission to operate in as many countries as possible. Earlier this year, SpaceX threatened to shut off Starlink access in unapproved areas and Mobile Regional roaming customers who have been out of their alleged home region for longer than two months. Starlink has also tinkered with the idea of removing its Mobile Global plan.