Which countries currently cannot use Starlink? What are the reasons (e.g., regulatory barriers)?

Alright, let's talk about Starlink. You can imagine it as a massive global Wi-Fi network, except the signal comes from satellites in space. But why isn't it available in every country? The reasons behind this are quite complex.

Which Countries Currently Cannot Use Starlink?

Simply put, they can be divided into two main categories: those that have no intention of allowing it in, and those that haven't been reached yet.

For the most accurate official map, you can directly visit Starlink's official website, which features a dynamic global service availability map showing "Available," "Waitlist," and "Coming Soon" regions.

However, based on currently available information and news, the following countries are typical examples where it's unavailable:

• Countries with explicit restrictions or bans:

  • China
  • Russia
  • Iran
  • North Korea
  • Cuba
  • Syria
  • Afghanistan
  • Belarus
  • Venezuela

• Countries awaiting approval or not yet launched:

  • India (complex approval process, ongoing discussions)
  • Pakistan
  • Most countries/regions in Africa and Asia

Why Are These Countries Unable to Use It?

The reasons are varied, but they can primarily be boiled down to the following points, which I'll explain in simple terms:

1. Regulatory and Sovereignty Issues (The Primary Reason)

You can understand it this way: any company wishing to provide telecommunications services (such as mobile signals, broadband internet) in a country must obtain a "license" or "permit" from that country's government. Governments need to be able to manage and oversee these services.

• Information Control: Starlink's signal is transmitted directly from space to the user's small antenna ("dish"), bypassing traditional terrestrial network infrastructure. For some countries that wish to strictly control internet content, this poses a significant challenge. They cannot easily "cut off" or "filter" information transmitted via Starlink. Therefore, for reasons of national security and information control, they directly prohibit Starlink from providing services. The countries mentioned in the "explicit restrictions" list above are primarily due to this reason.

• Protection of Local Operators: Many countries have their own state-owned or large private telecommunications companies. Allowing an "outsider" like Starlink to compete without restrictions could severely impact the interests of domestic telecom enterprises. Therefore, governments may protect their local markets by setting high regulatory barriers or simply refusing to issue licenses.

2. Service Not Yet Rolled Out (In Queue)

Although Starlink has many satellites, it cannot cover the entire globe overnight. Its deployment strategy is phased and regional.

• Satellite Coverage Density: In some regions, the satellites in orbit are not yet dense enough to provide stable, high-speed service. Starlink needs to continuously launch new satellites to fill these gaps.
• Ground Station Construction: Starlink requires not only satellites in space but also the construction of "gateway" ground stations on Earth. These ground stations act like large routers, connecting satellite signals to the global internet backbone. Building a ground station in a country also requires approval from the local government. If a country has not yet approved station construction, or if its geographical location is too far from existing ground stations, service quality cannot be guaranteed.
• Administrative Approval Process: Even if a country is not opposed to Starlink in principle, obtaining all necessary permits from application submission can involve a lengthy administrative process. India, for example, has seen delays in service deployment due to approval processes and data security regulations.

3. Market and Commercial Considerations

Finally, this is also a business decision. SpaceX (Starlink's parent company) prioritizes regions with friendly regulatory environments, strong user purchasing power, and high market demand. For very poor regions or those with few potential users, even without regulatory obstacles, they might not be prioritized for service activation.

In summary:

Whether a country can use Starlink, technical issues are secondary. The key lies in whether the country's government "wants you to use it" and whether "it's your turn yet." The former is a political and regulatory issue, while the latter is a matter of business and technical deployment priority.