Poland may cut off Ukraine's Starlink access amid dispute with Musk
Photo: Starlink satellite internet terminals (Getty Images)
Poland threatened to review its annual spending on Starlink after the company changed roaming rules for Polish users. Warsaw is demanding that SpaceX explain the reasons behind the new restrictions, Politico reports.
What angered Poland
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Warsaw could reconsider its payments for Starlink services, on which it spends about $50 million annually.
"Hey, @elonmusk, big man, stop discriminating Polish users of Starlink or we might re-think paying you $50 million p.a. for your services," Sikorski wrote on Twitter (X).
The statement was prompted by Poland's exclusion from Starlink's broader European roaming zone. The zone covers more than 30 countries, including Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, and Lithuania.
Users in those countries can move their terminals between participating states without additional restrictions.
New rules already in effect
Under Starlink's updated rules, Poland is not included in this European region, and accounts registered in the country are intended for use only in the user's country of residence.
The new terms apply to customers registered from July 14, while existing Polish users will be affected starting August 17.
Poland's Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, has also demanded that SpaceX explain the legal basis for the changes.
"Poland is not a second-tier market. Polish customers are not second-tier customers," he said.
A dispute has erupted in Poland over Starlink's new rules, which from August 17 will change the conditions for Polish customers using the service outside the country. Warsaw argues that the new restrictions place Polish users at a disadvantage compared with customers from other European countries.
