Starlink Satellite Internet Service, popular remotely across Australia, has received formal warnings from telecommunications regulators.
Elon Musk’s Starlink, which provides internet by satellite, has received a formal warning from the Australian Communications and Media Agency (ACMA).
The service was launched in 2019 and then signed up to its first Australian client in 2021, and its popularity grew rapidly due to the continent’s remote geography.
In many places outside cities and considerable towns, traditional delivery via fiber optic cable or Wi-Fi is not possible, and remote areas with alternatives usually need to rely on slower copper networks.
In early 2025, Starlink has over 350,000 customers in Australia, accounting for around 4.2% of the home, according to the Infrastructure and Regional Development Agency.
Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active customers must report to the ACMA within 30 days of each quarter about the number and nature of complaints received.
However, Starlink failed to do so four times between October 2023 and July 2024.
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“Starlink’s failure to submit the necessary complaints report prevented the ACMA in its role in monitoring whether Starlink fulfills its obligations to consumers,” said authorities member Samantha Yorke.
According to ACMA, the company has since provided an open complaint report and has worked together during the investigation to fix the issue.
Starlink’s growth has led to speculation that it could become a competitor for Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN), but there are concerns about the risks this poses.
In July 2023, Optus announced a partnership with Starlink, delivering outdoor direct (DTH) mobile connections to areas without existing mobile coverage, providing nearly 100% coverage of the Australian continent, where users have a gaze in the sky.
Optus shows plans to deploy SMS functionality first. Voice and limited data features will be available approximately one year after initial deployment.
However, some submissions to the review have made the high cost of luxury equipment, ongoing subscription fees and self-installation models rendered some households and businesses inaccessible, especially in rural and remote areas.
“Starlink will need to set up a $139 monthly fee for a $599 terminal and housing services, out of reach of minimum-income households, according to a submission from the ARC Center of Excellence for automated decision-making.”
