Poland threatened Musk with a review of Starlink spending over discrimination
Kyiv • UNN
The Polish government threatened to review the $50 million annual payments to Starlink after the country was excluded from the European roaming zone. Ministers are demanding that SpaceX restore equal conditions for Polish customers.
The Polish government threatened to review its annual spending on Starlink after the company excluded Poland from the joint European roaming area, reports UNN.
Elon Musk, big man, stop discriminating against Polish Starlink users, or we may reconsider the decision to pay you $50 million a year for your services
The minister's anger followed Starlink's decision to exclude Poland from the joint European roaming area, which covers more than 30 countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania.
As indicated on the Starlink website, Poland is not included in the travel region under the "Roam" plan.
"Accounts registered in Poland are considered accounts intended for use in Poland only," the website states.
It is reported that if your account is registered in Poland, use in other European countries is considered international travel under your plan.
"Roam 100 GB" plan: intended for use within Poland. International use is not included. To travel outside Poland, switch to the "Roam Unlimited" plan, activate the "Priority" plan, or change the country in which the account is registered.
"Roam Unlimited" plan: use in Poland, as well as up to 30 days outside Poland during a single trip. After 30 days, switch to the "Priority" plan, change the country in which the account is registered, or return to Poland to start counting the 30 days again.
Polish Digitalization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated on the social network X that "if SpaceX and Musk want to operate in Poland, use the Polish market and earn money from Polish customers, he must treat them fairly and on equal terms".
"From August 17, Poles using Starlink Roam are to be placed in a worse position than customers from other European countries: additional formalities, an obligation to report trips and document checks. I do not accept the answer that this is simply how it has to be. Therefore, I have asked SpaceX to urgently restore equal conditions for the company's Polish customers. If the reason is 'local regulatory requirements,' I expect specific regulations to be indicated. General explanations are insufficient. Polish citizens cannot be treated worse merely because a global corporation decided so," Gawkowski wrote.
He added that new technologies open up enormous opportunities for people, but along with them, global companies have gained enormous power over the conditions under which we work, communicate, travel and use services.
"And that is precisely why it is the state's duty to respond to any manifestations of unequal treatment of customers, market manipulation or other actions that contradict market ethics. Poland is not a second-rate market. Polish customers are not second-rate customers," the minister added.
We remind you
American billionaire Elon Musk did not allow Ukraine to use Starlink to target Russian launchers of ballistic missiles. Such a decision complicates the "hunt" for mobile targets in the Russian rear, but does not stop Ukraine's campaign of long-range strikes.