Starlink Asks Some LEO Satellite Broadband Customers to Show Passports

The Starlink (SpaceX) service, which offers ultrafast broadband in the UK and around the world via a global network of compact satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), has introduced a “Travel Registration” policy that requires customers to show their Passport details if you use or may potentially use the service outside your registered home country. Failure to do so could get you suspended.

Starlink currently has nearly 10,400 satellites in orbit – mostly at altitudes of between c.340-550km. Residential customers in the UK usually pay from £35 a month for the ‘Residential 100Mbps’ unlimited data plan (kit price may vary due to different offers), which also promises uploads of c.15-35Mbps and low latency connectivity. Faster packages exist at greater cost, while more restrictive (data capped) options also exist for roaming users (e.g. £50 per month for 100GB of data).

However, some customers with portable Starlink Mini kit recently started seeing a red banner pop-up headed “Customer verification required“, which warned them of how “regulations require that additional information must be provided or your service will be deactivated in 25 days” (credits to PC Mag). Starlink has required something like this in very selected countries before, but it’s now becoming a wider requirement.

Crucially this pop-up may appear even if you’ve never travelled outside your registered country (just the possibility seems to be enough), which suggests that Starlink might be trying to clampdown on abuse of the service by criminal groups and other bad actors (scammer organisations, drug gangs, hostile militaries etc.). The Travel Registration page provides further details.

What is Travel Registration?

Travel registration is required for all Starlink use outside of the country or territory where you initially registered your account (your registered home country or territory). Travel registration does not guarantee service availability outside your registered home country or territory. International use of Starlink is subject to Starlink’s Terms of Service and local regulations.

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Does travel registration affect use in my home country or territory?

No. You may use Starlink within your registered home country or territory when all registration requirements for that location are complete. You will see a banner in your account with instructions for completing the registration in your registered home country or territory. These requirements are denoted by Type = Home under the Registration Requirements section of account Settings.

What information is required to complete travel registration?

To complete travel registration, the following information is required:

Full Legal Name
Nationality
Date of Birth
Passport Number
Copy of Passport
Live Portrait

For Premium Business accounts:

Registration Number
Copy of Registration Document

Additional details may be required for other Travel registrations as per local regulations.

When am I required to complete travel registration?

All accounts on all service plans must complete travel registration for international use of Starlink. Failure to complete registration will result in service being disabled in any country or territory where travel registration is incomplete.

Customers who find their accounts have been disabled can still re-enable it by providing the required information, although Starlink does rather cheekily say that customers who have their accounts disabled will continue to be billed like normal.