Iran Officially Protests to Norway Over 'Starlink'

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Iran has officially protested to Norway over the continued operation of Starlink satellite internet devices and services within its territory, in a move that reflects the escalating dispute over the use of satellite internet services in a country where their operation is not officially permitted.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Norwegian ambassador to Tehran yesterday, Sunday, and handed him a note of protest regarding what it described as "unauthorized activities" of Starlink, demanding Oslo to take urgent measures to stop transmissions from devices located within Iranian territory.

An official from the Foreign Ministry stated that Tehran views the continuation of these activities as a violation of its sovereignty and national security, according to reports from official Iranian media.

Moreover, the Iranian protest was not limited to regulatory aspects, as Tehran accused the United States and Israel of using Starlink systems in what it described as "interventionist" activities, referring to the sensitivity of satellite communication services amid the security and military tensions in the region.

It is noted that the dispute between Tehran, Starlink, and Norway is not a result of the recent protest, as the Radio Regulations Board of the International Telecommunication Union has been considering the issue since its 92nd meeting, which was held in March 2023.

In its latest review of the file, the board indicated the continued operation of Starlink devices without authorization inside Iran, and acknowledged that the network operator has the technical capability to locate and disable some devices remotely. However, the board confirmed at the same time that it does not have the authority to suspend frequency allocations for the Starlink network due to non-compliance.

The board also reiterated its request for the administrations of Norway and the United States to adhere to relevant international regulations and decisions, urging them to take available actions to compel the Starlink operator to disable unauthorized transmissions from devices located within Iranian territory.

Tehran bases its protest on the decisions of the Radio Regulations Board, considering that Norway bears responsibility as the entity associated with registering and notifying Starlink systems with the International Telecommunication Union.

However, the details of the file with the International Telecommunication Union are more complex than that; the board pointed out in its recent meetings the roles of both Norway and the United States in the file, and called on the two administrations to cooperate with the network operator to address unauthorized transmissions.

The council also noted in a previous meeting that Norway was not prepared to implement previous decisions to halt transmissions in Iran without a clear requirement in the regulatory framework, while the United States opposed some interpretations of the council regarding its powers. In its 101st meeting, the council concluded that the actions taken by the Norwegian administration were not in line with some obligations outlined in the International Telecommunication Union's decisions, while confirming that Iran's responsibility includes making efforts to identify and disable unauthorized devices within its territory, according to the International Telecommunication Union.

One of the main points of contention lies in Starlink's technical ability to locate and disable devices. The Radio Regulations Board noted that the Starlink system is capable of locating terminal devices and disabling them remotely, and it pointed out that the network had previously disabled thousands of devices that were operating illegally in another area.

According to the council, operating Starlink stations in territories that have not granted service licenses contradicts the provisions of Article 18 of the Radio Regulations and the relevant decisions of the International Telecommunication Union. The council had previously concluded that having conditions in user contracts that prevent the operation of devices in unlicensed countries is not sufficient on its own to comply with international rules.

Iran has been trying for years to limit the use of Starlink, especially given the service's ability to provide internet connectivity without directly relying on local telecommunications networks. In contrast, the debate over the service has become part of a broader discussion about the limits of state sovereignty over space communications and the responsibility of satellite companies when their devices operate in territories that have not granted licenses for their services.

The ongoing case within the International Telecommunication Union indicates that the dispute is not only about Tehran and Oslo, but raises a broader regulatory question about how to deal with satellite internet services that can locate and disable terminal devices remotely, and who bears responsibility when those devices operate within a country that has not permitted their operation.

The issue of unauthorized transmissions from satellite stations is set to remain present in the report submitted to the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference, along with discussions on the difficulties faced in implementing the current regulations.