As SpaceX expands Starlink gross sales globally, the corporate has paused its reseller program, citing “overwhelming” demand from companies.
“Starlink is not accepting purposes to develop into a certified reseller,” the corporate wrote on its assist web page, noticed by Tim Belfall, a director at UK-based Starlink installer Westend WiFi. “The appliance course of has been closed on account of an awesome variety of submissions. We are going to replace this web page if this system reopens for brand spanking new purposes sooner or later.”
SpaceX already has an enormous reseller community spanning about 200 distributors. Nonetheless, the change is shocking as a result of it means turning down a considerable income stream from impartial firms seeking to resell Starlink. SpaceX beforehand talked about that “to be thought-about, your organization ought to have a marketing strategy to attain a minimal of $5M USD in annual recurring income for Starlink knowledge service.”
In his put up, Belfall added: “You want very deep monetary pockets [to become a reseller], be keen to freely spend cash, and have stamina in addition to infinite endurance.”
SpaceX didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark in regards to the change. But it surely’s doable the corporate is attempting to crack down on unhealthy actors who’re attempting to amass the satellite tv for pc web system. Final month, SpaceX additionally paused the associated program “Oblique Reselling Program,” which didn’t require as a lot up-front funding, based on Belfall.
In a assist web page, SpaceX mentioned it halted the oblique reselling program as a result of “We need to guarantee oblique preparations are solely used for really strategic alternatives the place there are actual obstacles (licensing, language, operational attain, or regulated markets). The present method has created compliance danger and decreased visibility into finish clients.”
Beneficial by Our Editors
So it is doable SpaceX is attempting to clamp down on potential legal responsibility dangers because it prepares for an IPO that would elevate as much as $75 billion for Elon Musk’s firm. The satellite tv for pc web service has been well-liked with all types of consumers, together with on-line scammers in Southeast Asia, drug cartels, and Russian navy forces, as a solution to obtain connectivity in hard-to-reach locations.
SpaceX can also be now imposing a brand new “journey registration” coverage that requires Starlink clients to submit their passport info and a dwell portrait when utilizing the satellite tv for pc web service exterior their dwelling nation. As well as, SpaceX is making ready to close down a location knowledge operate that would assist clients bypass GPS spoofing and jamming.
About Our Skilled
Michael Kan
Principal Reporter
Expertise
I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I obtained my begin as a colleges and cities reporter in Kansas Metropolis and joined PCMag in 2017, the place I cowl satellite tv for pc web companies, cybersecurity, PC {hardware}, and extra. I am presently primarily based in San Francisco, however beforehand spent over 5 years in China, masking the nation’s know-how sector.
Since 2020, I’ve coated the launch and explosive development of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web service, writing 600+ tales on availability and have launches, but in addition the regulatory battles over the enlargement of satellite tv for pc constellations, fights with rival suppliers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the hassle to broaden into satellite-based cell service. I’ve combed by way of FCC filings for the most recent information and pushed to distant corners of California to check Starlink’s mobile service.
I additionally cowl cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC compelled Avast to pay customers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and promoting their private info to third-party purchasers, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I additionally cowl the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in entrance of a Finest Purchase to get an RTX 3000. I am now following how the AI-driven reminiscence scarcity is impacting all the shopper electronics market. I am at all times desirous to study extra, so please soar within the feedback with suggestions and ship me ideas.
Learn Full Bio
