Buyers of Starlink Kit from General resellers of Starlink Kits face punitive measure from Starlink

Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, has recently introduced an “Outside Region Fee” aimed at curbing unauthorized resales of its hardware. This fee is applied when a Starlink dish is activated outside the region where it was originally purchased, effectively targeting resellers who exploit price differences across markets.

Starlink has issued notice of additional of $200 – $300 United States tagged as Outside Region Fee on orders from users who buy kits from different market to use in another.

What is an “Outside Region Fee”?

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Starlink Kits activated outside of the region they were originally sold in are subject to an “Outside Region Fee”. If you purchased a Starlink Kit from an unauthorized reseller, it is possible that the Outside Region Fee may apply to your order. To avoid this charge, please ensure you are purchasing Starlink from an authorized channel, such as Starlink.com or from an authorized retailer within your region. See applicable fees in USD by region and Starlink Kit type below:

Region of Purchase	Standard Kit & Standard Actuated Kit	Mini Kit
1) US/CA	$200	N/A
2) Latin America	$200	$300
3) Europe	$200	$300
4) Africa	$200	$300
5) Asia	$200	$300
6) Oceania	$200	$300

Outside Region Fee

Details of the Fee

The Outside Region Fee ranges from $200 to $300, depending on the specific Starlink Kit purchased. For instance, the fee is set at $200 for the Standard and Standard Actuated kits, while the Starlink Mini incurs a fee of $300.

Purpose of the Fee

This fee is designed to discourage the practice of “dish flipping,” where resellers buy Starlink kits in regions where they are cheaper and sell them in areas where prices are higher. This practice has created a black market for Starlink devices, complicating the company’s efforts to maintain a consistent pricing structure and control over its distribution.

If a customer purchases a Starlink kit in one of the designated regions—such as the US and Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, or Oceania—and attempts to activate it in another region, they will be subject to this fee. To avoid incurring the Outside Region Fee, customers are advised to purchase their Starlink hardware directly from Starlink.com or from authorized resellers within their region.

Starlink OutsideRegion Fee

Strategic Implications

This policy reflects Starlink’s broader strategy to maintain control over its hardware distribution and pricing. By imposing this fee, SpaceX aims to protect its market integrity and ensure that its products are used as intended, thereby reducing the potential for unauthorized resales and the complications that arise from them. In another sense, Starlink wants to control which device gets used where and how much more should SpaceX make more to allow a user freedom.

The Outside Region Fee is a significant move by Starlink to combat unauthorized reselling and maintain a fair pricing structure across different markets, ultimately enhancing the company’s operational integrity. The fee may be applied in USD or local currency if supported in your activation country. Based on foreign exchange volatility and local taxes, there may be some variance in the charge applied to your account if you are subject to an “Outside Region Fee”.