Starlink introduces up to $300 fee to curb unauthorized sales

Users who activate their Starlink kits outside the region they were originally sold may be charged with what Starlink calls an “Outside Region Fee.”

The company says that users must buy equipment from an authorized seller in their region or from Starlink itself to avoid the potential fee.

The company categorizes its markets into five regions: USA and Canada, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Users who activate the Standard and Standard Actuated Kit in a region other than the one where they bought the equipment may face a $200 fee, while the fee for the Starlink Mini is $300.

Additionally, the company says that the fee may differ based on foreign exchange and foreign taxes, suggesting that it may be larger in some instances.

This policy is intended to deter unauthorized reselling, where sellers buy equipment in one region at a lower cost and sell it in another for a higher price.

One reason companies offer different pricing is local taxes. For this reason, the same hardware in Europe is generally more expensive than in the US.

This summer, Starlink revealed the portable dish Starlink Mini, which weighs 1.1 kg (2.43 lb) and fits in a backpack.

Right now, around 6,000 Starlink satellites are in orbit.