Starlink Arrives in the Falklands. My Access Does Not.

Next week I’ll be visiting the Falkland Islands, a place I know well and have long supported in its efforts to improve connectivity. As one of the original members of the Starlink Petition Group, I am genuinely pleased to see that Starlink has finally arrived on the islands and is providing a modern, high-performance option for many residents and businesses. It’s rewarding to know that the work of so many people has made a real difference.

However, there is a certain irony in all this. Despite having helped advocate for Starlink’s introduction, I will not be able to use it during my upcoming visit. Under the current VSAT licence conditions, Starlink access is restricted to the individual licence holder for personal use only. Visitors, guests, friends, tenants, and even visiting family members are not permitted to use a terminal unless they are the licence-holder. As a result, the simple act of using a local Starlink connection remains off-limits to temporary visitors staying in local accommodation, like myself.

This has turned into an extensive dialogue about whether “friends” visiting a “household” would be legally able to use the VSAT licence holder’s Starlink service. I’m happy to update with the objective data once I have seen it.

Note #1: A reader’s comment makes the point that: “In a guide issued by the regulator, there is a question – “What does personal use mean for me (Residential) – If I have friends and family to visit, can they use my VSAT to access the internet? “ – “YES.” So my comment may be unduly pessimistic.”

Note #2: I have searched all the FAQs and guidance published by the Communications Regulator, but I am unable to locate any guidance on “friends visiting”. All that can be found is “This means that you can only use your Starlink terminal for your household or business. You cannot use your Starlink to provide free or paid internet to others.”

Note #3: The source of this turns out to be a paper handout at a Camp update in the last few days. The question is, how valid is this written guidance, bearing in mind that this is not included in any of the official guidance or papers provided – as far as I can find – on the Communications Regulator’s website?

Naturally, this led me to explore the theoretical avenues for gaining access. A few imaginative possibilities came to mind, though none of them hold up well in practice. For example, one might consider marrying a local to become a member of the household, a creative but not particularly reliable way to obtain high-speed internet access. Alternatively, becoming an employee of a local business sounds plausible. Even the idea of stepping aboard a vessel with its own ship station-licensed Starlink terminal seems less far-fetched than navigating the personal-use conditions on land.

In reality, the most lawful option remains to use Sure broadband or public Wi-Fi while on the islands. These services can be shared with guests and visitors without any licensing complications. I will not bring a Starlink terminal with me for such a short trip.

So, while it is somewhat amusing and admittedly frustrating that someone who campaigned for the arrival of Starlink cannot legally use it as a visitor, it also highlights the importance of clarity and consistency in regulatory frameworks. The progress made so far is real and substantial, and I look forward to seeing how the policy environment continues to evolve as the technology becomes more established.

Ah well, c’est la vie, and maybe I hope to have many ‘friends’?

Note: Yes, the Malvina hotel in Stanley is now offering Sure’s SA OneWeb-based 20-25 Mbps service to its guests as part of the room rate. Day-to-day hotel guests can get a 1-hour WiFi card for free. But I’m not staying there on this trip.

Chris Gare, November 2025, copyright OpenFalklands