Starlink excludes Poland from Europe roaming rules

Starlink has excluded Polish subscribers from new European roaming rules for internet access, drawing criticism from Poland's government.

The decision means Polish subscribers will have to submit passports each time they use the service outside Poland and also sign up for more expensive premium plans. The policy update is due to take effect on August 17.

Starlink did not explain why Poland was being excluded from its Europe roaming region.

Polish Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski posted on X that he had contacted SpaceX to demand “the urgent restoration of equal terms” for Polish customers. He wrote: “I do not accept that a major global technology company should treat Poles worse than other Europeans.”

It was not clear whether the new rules would affect Ukraine subscriptions. Poland has spent millions to provide Starlink terminals and subscriptions to Ukrainian forces since Russia's invasion more than four years ago.

The dispute follows earlier tension over Starlink and Ukraine. Last year, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that if SpaceX proved to be an unreliable provider, Poland would have to look for other suppliers. Elon Musk replied on X: “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”