Starlink Internet terminals belonging to American entrepreneur Elon Musk’s SpaceX company can be purchased illegally on the black market in many parts of the world where they are not officially sold or working, the agency writes Bloombergby quoting sources.
The investigation conducted by journalists revealed numerous examples of illegal sale and activation of Starlink kits.
“The manner in which they are smuggled in and the apparent availability of Starlink on the black market suggest that their malicious use is a systematic global problem,” the authors of the article write.
Unnamed Western diplomats told the agency that Starlink could be purchased in Sudan and used, including by Rapid Response Forces opposing the government military. They were found to have entered terminals in Dubai and were then transported by plane to Uganda, from where the Starlink kits traveled north to Sudan by land.
Similarly, terminals are sold in Venezuela, which is under US sanctions, but according to open data, Starlink does not operate in this country.
Journalists write that in South Africa, where authorities have not yet approved the use of Starlink, terminal trading is “developing” thanks to groups on social networks. Vendors offer kits activated in neighboring Mozambique.
March 16 recognizedBillionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a secret contract with the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The value of the contract signed in 2021 is 1.8 billion dollars.
Previously SpaceX plans Remove some Starlink satellites from orbit.