Starlink’s operations in Australia have violated the country’s consumer protection rules. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) conducted an investigation in response to a consumer complaint and discovered that Starlink had failed to disclose the end date of a limited-time special promotion on their website.
The promotion, which ran between June and July, offered discounted hardware and high-speed internet plans. However, the absence of an end date on the website was determined to be a violation of the telecoms consumer protection code.
As a result, ACMA issued a caution to Starlink and instructed them to comply with the code, which requires operators to transparently communicate the end date of any promotional offers.
In response to the investigation, Starlink eventually added an end date to the promotion in late July, but quickly removed it thereafter.
Operators who fail to comply with ACMA’s directions can face penalties of up to AUD250,000 (approximately $160,800).
It is worth noting that in July, Starlink announced a partnership with Telstra to provide voice and fixed broadband services in remote areas. Additionally, just last month, SpaceX, the company behind Starlink, reached an agreement with rival Optus to deliver mobile connectivity using Starlink satellites, with plans to begin implementation in late 2024.