As soon as it works here in the UK I think I’ll be buying 2 new iPhones, one for me, one for my wife, but not before. It would be nice if Apple would give some indication on likely progress.
Interesting that you think it’s a legal / regulatory issue. Didn’t Elon Musk say something about how his Starlink service could provide access to the internet above any country without seeking their permission as there was no need for any ground infrastructure? Maybe different for combined satellite/cell tower system? What happens when someone from the US travels to the EU, would their ability to use Satellite Messaging just stop?
Should be a useful service once it gets going for me personally.
Well, consider the source. I strongly suspect that any governmental agency tasked with regulating use of the electromagnetic spectrum would not feel restrained in exercising their authority just because “there was no need for any ground infrastructure.”
Could being the operative word. There’s no technical reason why it couldn’t. But if Starlink actually did ignore local laws, everybody on the ground in those countries could get into legal trouble.
Which is one reason why it isn’t available globally.
I assume the base stations use something resembling GPS to determine their location and refuse to operate when in a country where they’re not allowed to operate.
If they didn’t have the capability, people would be smuggling Starlink units into countries where they’re prohibited. And I haven’t read anything about this in the news. Given the fact that the press would jump at yet another reason to hate Elon, I’m inclined to believe that these lockouts work.
