WANA (Mar 14) – For some time now, satellite internet—especially Starlink—has been widely discussed in public and media circles as a way to bypass internet restrictions. Some believe that with Starlink’s arrival, domestic internet services will become obsolete and regulations on social media will lose their effect.

 

However, what is often overlooked in this perspective is a fundamental principle of international regulations: providing telecommunications services in a country, including satellite internet, without that country’s authorization is illegal.

 

This very principle brought the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) into the matter. Following Iran’s legal actions, the ITU last year mandated Starlink to recognize Iran’s territorial rights and deactivate unauthorized devices operating within the country.

 

Starlink accepted this requirement but asserted that it is not responsible for identifying these devices. Now, a letter sent by the United States to the ITU indicates that the organization remains firm on enforcing its ruling.

 

Iran’s Legal Approach to Starlink

From the outset, Iran adopted a law-abiding stance toward satellite internet. The Iranian Ministry of Communications, by declaring the country’s territorial regulations (landing rights) to all satellite internet operators, including Starlink, laid the groundwork for these companies to operate legally and officially in Iran.

 

At the same time, to prevent unauthorized activities, the matter was pursued through the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 

As a result of these efforts, in 2023, the RRB issued a resolution requiring Starlink to comply with Iran’s territorial regulations. Subsequently, the United States sent a letter to the ITU, indicating that the organization continues to monitor the full implementation of the resolution.

 

Accordingly, Starlink is not only required to deactivate unauthorized devices but also to take responsibility for identifying them—a matter that the ITU will decide upon.

 

U.S. and Starlink’s Response

Following the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) resolution, the United States sought to relieve Starlink of the responsibility for identifying unauthorized devices.

 

In a letter sent by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. State Department to the ITU, it was stated that existing regulations do not impose a specific obligation on Starlink to independently locate unauthorized devices. This is the same argument previously made by Norway, as Starlink’s registering country within the union, but the ITU had rejected it.

 

However, in its previous meetings, the ITU emphasized that Starlink had already identified the locations of its terminals in certain countries, making the company’s claim of inability in this regard unacceptable.

 

One of the ITU’s resolutions states that the transmission of Persian and English messages by the satellite operator to the devices indicates a systematic review of these terminals’ locations by Starlink itself.

 

Why Must Starlink Comply with ITU Regulations?

The sovereignty of nations over their telecommunications space is one of the fundamental principles in the international regulation of communications. Ignoring this principle would lead to technical disorder in the global telecommunications system. For this reason, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as the global regulatory body, strictly enforces these regulations.

 

All ITU member states, including the United States, are committed to adhering to its resolutions. Starlink, too, requires the cooperation and approval of the ITU to continue its satellite operations. As a result, the company has no choice but to comply with the ITU’s regulations.

 

What’s the Next Step?

With the new letter sent by the United States, the final decision now rests with the Radio Regulations Board of the International Telecommunication Union. In response to this letter, Iran has presented its legal arguments and emphasized the necessity for Starlink itself to identify unauthorized devices.

 

Ultimately, although the U.S. seeks to shift the burden of responsibility away from Starlink, the International Telecommunication Union has previously demonstrated resistance to such arguments. Now, it remains to be seen what decision this international body will make in its upcoming session regarding the full implementation of its resolution.