Technology, AI & Cyber
Poland may rethink $50m Starlink payments over roaming
Poland may rethink paying $50 million a year for Starlink services after the company excluded Polish subscribers from new European roaming rules, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned.
The policy change means Polish subscribers will have to submit passports each time they use Starlink outside Poland and sign up for more expensive premium plans. The update is due to take effect on August 17.
Starlink did not explain why Poland was left out of its Europe roaming region. On its website, the company listed 36 European countries and territories covered by the plan, but said accounts registered in Poland would be treated as Poland-only for home-country use.
Polish Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said he had contacted SpaceX to demand “the urgent restoration of equal terms” for Polish customers. He wrote on X that he did not accept that “a major global technology company should treat Poles worse than other Europeans.”
Gawkowski later told journalists Poland would not cede to “retaliation”. He said it “may be a game” involving US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, “but not with the Polish government”.
Sikorski also posted on X: “Hey, @elonmusk, big man, stop discriminating Polish users of Starlink or we might re-think paying you $50 million p.a. for your services.”
It was not clear whether the new rules would affect Ukraine subscriptions. Poland has spent millions providing Starlink terminals and subscriptions to Ukrainian forces since Russia's invasion more than four years ago.
The dispute is the latest tension between Poland and Musk over Starlink since the war in neighbouring Ukraine began.
Update
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned Elon Musk that Poland might rethink paying $50 million a year for Starlink services if Polish users remained excluded.
Polish Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski told journalists Poland would not cede to what he called retaliation.
Gawkowski suggested the dispute could be a game involving US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, but said it would not be played with the Polish government.
Starlink listed 36 European countries and territories in its roaming plan while saying Poland was not included.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 August 2026 at 14:05:54 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Starlink did not explain why Poland was excluded from the Europe roaming region.
It was not clear whether the new rules would affect Ukraine subscriptions.
The reason for the exclusion remains disputed or unconfirmed.
Source
AFP news report published on .