Poland threatens to reconsider $50M Starlink payment after SpaceX excludes Polish users from European roaming zone

Starlink excludes Poland from European roaming

SpaceX announced changes to Starlink's roaming terms effective August 17 that exclude Poland from a shared European roaming zone covering more than 30 countries, including Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Lithuania and Romania. Customers within the zone can move terminals across borders without triggering international-use restrictions. Polish accounts, however, will be treated as "intended exclusively for use in Poland," according to the updated terms.

Under the new rules, Polish subscribers on the "Roam - Unlimited" plan will be able to use internet abroad for 30 days per trip. After that period, they must return to Poland to "reset the 30-day period," upgrade to a more expensive plan, or change their country of registration. Users will also face requirements to register foreign trips and present identity documents.

Polish ministers push back

Digitalization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski announced on August 12 that he had sent a letter to SpaceX demanding "urgent restoration of equal rules for Polish customers." He asked SpaceX to specify which "local regulatory requirements" justified the exclusion, stating that general explanations would not suffice.

If Elon Musk's SpaceX wants to operate in Poland, use the Polish market and earn from Polish customers, it must treat them fairly and on equal terms.

Gawkowski argued that when global companies hold enormous power over the conditions of work, communication and travel, the state has a duty to respond to unequal treatment, market manipulation or conduct contrary to market ethics.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski took a more direct approach, addressing Musk on X.

Hey, Elon Musk, big man, stop discriminating against Polish users of Starlink, or we might reconsider paying you $50 million per year for your services.

Critics question Sikorski's tone

Former Confederation MP Krystian Kamiński urged Sikorski to treat his role seriously, accusing him of engaging in "silly bickering on social media" to satisfy vanity and a need for attention. Online commenters also questioned whether the $50 million figure carries weight in negotiations with a billionaire of Musk's wealth.

History of tensions

This is not the first dispute between Polish authorities and SpaceX. In March 2025, a public exchange on X between Musk and Sikorski drew in US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, centered on Starlink's use in Ukraine. Reuters reported in February 2025 that the US administration had threatened Ukraine with immediate Starlink cutoff if Kyiv did not accept Washington's terms on a rare earth minerals deal. Musk commented that without his system "the entire front in Ukraine would collapse," and called Sikorski a "little man" and "Soros puppet." Sikorski responded that Poland could seek other suppliers if SpaceX proved unreliable.

Starlink plays a central role in Ukraine's military and civilian communications. As of April 2025, Ukraine used 50,000 Starlink terminals, of which 29,500 were provided by Poland. Warsaw also finances ongoing system maintenance.

The satellite network currently operates approximately 10,900 active satellites, with SpaceX planning to deploy over 40,000. The newest generation, Starlink Version 3, is undergoing testing and is designed to offer downlink speeds of up to 1 Tb/s and uplink of up to 160 Gb/s.