The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been forced to warn Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink. They have entirely blown past the deadline for filing required unsafe complaint reports. This regulatory warning underlines the concerns that regulators have with the service, which has quickly grown in popularity to become a household name among users across Australia.
Starlink runs more than 30,000 active services in Australia. It is required to report complaints quarterly to the ACMA within 30 days of the end of each quarter. These reports are very important for oversight, to track whether or not telecommunications companies are keeping their consumer-facing promises. Starlink’s inability—or refusal—to report on its activity has brought up questions about the company’s accountability in Australia’s market.
In making the announcement, Samantha Yorke, a senior official with the ACMA, stressed the need for quick action.
“Starlink’s failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers.” – Samantha Yorke
The growing satellite internet service represents a major competitive threat to Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN). Unlike any other system, Starlink is able to provide capabilities beyond traditional communications. What’s more, it could provide high-speed affordable internet as the default — particularly in regional and remote places where no one offers regular broadband. Thousands more Australians are now understood to be using Starlink as their home internet solution.
The UK’s foreign ownership of Starlink creates serious concerns about data security and sovereign risk. In December a regional telecommunications review echoed these worries. It cautioned that becoming over-reliant on foreign-owned, operated or controlled systems would endanger national interests and the privacy of Americans.
Starlink is quickly building its network down under. At the same time, the ACMA’s latest call out provides an important reminder that the company should be respecting the law and living up to its responsibilities to consumers.
