Poles are Not ‘Second-Class’: Warsaw Demands Musk Restore Starlink Access

Poland has demanded that SpaceX reverse its decision to exclude the country from Starlink’s European roaming region, accusing Elon Musk’s company of treating Polish users as “second-class customers.” Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said that he had asked SpaceX to urgently restore equal treatment after new roaming rules left Polish customers facing higher costs for cross-border use. JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “I don’t agree that a global technology company treats Poles worse than other Europeans,” Gawkowski wrote on X. “If @SpaceX @Elon Musk wants to operate in Poland, take advantage of the Polish market, and profit from Polish customers, he must treat them fairly and on equal terms,” he added. What’s the issue? Under Starlink’s updated rules, Poland is excluded from a European roaming zone covering more than 30 countries, including neighboring countries Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania. New customers have faced the rules since July 14, while existing customers are due to be affected from August 17. The change means that Polish users on Starlink’s 100 GB Roam plan, costing 180 złoty (€42) a month, could have to upgrade to the 460-zloty (€107) Roam Unlimited plan to use the service abroad. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Warns Russia’s ‘Starlink Rival’ Could Open a New Drone Threat Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov urged Ukraine to develop electronic warfare systems against Russia’s expanding satellite network before it becomes fully operational. Gawkowski said Poles would also be subject to additional formalities, mandatory travel reporting, and document verification. ‘Not a second-class market’ “That’s why I’ve asked SpaceX to urgently restore equal treatment for the company’s Polish customers,” Gawkowski said. “Poland is not a second-class market. Polish customers are not second-class customers.” The minister also warned the dispute goes beyond Starlink, arguing that governments must challenge unequal treatment by technology giants. “New technologies offer people enormous opportunities. But with them, global companies have gained enormous power over the conditions under which we work, communicate, travel, and use services,” he said. What’s behind the change? The decision has prompted speculation in Polish media that it could be linked to the use of Starlink terminals supplied by Poland in Ukraine. Photo: Support Forces of Ukraine Command/Wikimedia Commons Starlink has not publicly explained why Poland was excluded from the roaming region, and Gawkowski demanded that the company identify the specific rules behind the decision. “I don’t accept the answer that this is simply the way it is,” he said. “If the reason is ‘local regulatory requirements,’ I expect specific regulations. General explanations are not enough.” The decision has prompted speculation in Polish media that it could be linked to the use of Starlink terminals supplied by Poland in Ukraine. Warsaw has purchased thousands of terminals for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion and has covered subscription costs. The service has also been the subject of a public dispute between Musk and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. TVP World is Poland's first English-language channel where you can find our guest interviews, world news from the Polish perspective and the latest news from the CEE region.