Starlink Accuses Telecom Italia of Stopping High-Speed Internet Expansion 

Starlink accused Italy’s largest telecommunications company, Telecom Italia, of hindering the expansion of the high-speed internet in the country. 

The satellite company, owned by Elon Musk, claimed that the interference may also lead to potential ramifications for its services in both Europe and North Africa. 

It also claimed that the telecom company has not complied with regulations relating to the sharing of spectrum data, which is crucial for preventing frequency interference. As a result, Starlink Italy is behind on the deployment of new gateway equipment. 

Commenting on Starlink’s complaint, a representative from Telecom Italia stated that this objection does not showcase all the facts nor does it consider the ongoing discussions. The communications authority, as well as the Ministry of Industry in Italy, also refused to express an opinion on the matter, while SpaceX did not respond to requests to do so. 

For its part, Musk’s company reports that Telecom Italia has refused to cooperate and has not shared essential data, which could potentially result in service disruptions in areas dependent on the equipment in Italy. 

Furthermore, the company urged the Ministry of Industry to take action, or else it will consider redirecting the investments from starlink Italy in case the issue continues. Meanwhile, the Italian telco denied Starlink’s request to access data, for technical reasons. 

The Ministry of Industry announced that it is planning to establish working groups from both companies, to promote the coexistence of their technologies. “The Ministry needs to grant Telecom Italia’s critical data as well as to allow incoming carriers such as Starlink Italy to provide new services,” Minister Adolfo Urso said on Tuesday at an event in Rome. 

Starlink’s broadband Internet service is delivered via a network of satellites deployed by SpaceX. With approximately 2.6 million customers, it has the potential to become a major revenue source for SpaceX, which has evolved from Musk’s space exploration dreams into a key contractor for the US government’s space program. 

Meanwhile, Telecom Italia has faced challenges due to high labor costs and the need for substantial investments in network infrastructure. Last year, the company sold its landline network, its most valuable asset, to US private equity firm KKR & Co. 

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