Starlink's satellite internet service is creating significant problems for researchers trying to track internet usage patterns around the world. The issue stems from how the service reports its location data, leading to wildly inaccurate statistics about internet market share in various countries.
Misleading Market Share Statistics
APNIC Labs discovered a striking example of this problem when their data showed Starlink controlling nearly 60% of Yemen's internet market. This figure appeared after 321,000 measurement advertisements originated from IP addresses assigned to Starlink, with the company's geolocation database pointing to Yemen as their location. However, this data is almost certainly wrong.
The real explanation likely involves ships traveling through the Red Sea using Starlink's maritime internet service. Since Starlink offers much cheaper communication than traditional satellite providers like Inmarsat, many vessels have switched to the service. When these ships pass through international waters near Yemen, their internet traffic gets incorrectly attributed to the country.
Yemen Internet Market Share (Incorrect Data)
| Rank | Provider | Users (est.) | % of Country | ASN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starlink | 6,233,929 | 59.22% | AS14593 |
| 2 | PTC-YE-NET | 3,356,039 | 31.89% | AS35980 |
| 3 | YEMENNET | 910,000 | 8.65% | AS131775 |
| 4 | Cloudflare | 28,647 | 3.27% | AS13335 |
Technical Challenges with Satellite Geolocation
Traditional internet geolocation works by mapping IP addresses to physical locations based on network infrastructure. This system breaks down with satellite internet because the signals travel through space rather than ground-based cables. The community has noted that while older satellite services had similar issues due to wide coverage beams, Starlink's situation is more puzzling.
It's still baffling to me how Starlink is getting away with this. But for Starlink, which has a mandatory GPS receiver in every terminal and which uses spot beams smaller than some rural 5G cells?
The problem extends beyond Yemen. Small island nations like Tuvalu show Starlink controlling 90% of their internet market, while remote territories like Svalbard report nearly 98% Starlink usage. These figures likely reflect maritime traffic and roaming users rather than actual local internet adoption.
Countries with High Starlink Market Share (Likely Incorrect)
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands: 98% Starlink usage
- Tuvalu: 90% Starlink usage
- Vanuatu: 56% Starlink usage
- Saint Barthelemy: High percentage (exact figure unclear)
- Fiji: 2% Starlink usage
International Law and Regulatory Concerns
The geolocation confusion highlights a broader issue about how satellite internet services operate across national boundaries. Starlink has obtained regulatory approval in some Middle Eastern countries like Yemen, Oman, and Qatar, but not in others like Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Yet the service appears to work in unauthorized areas through various workarounds.
Some users and resellers reportedly set up Starlink service in approved countries and then ship the equipment to nearby unauthorized locations. This practice raises questions about the effectiveness of national internet regulations and international telecommunications law.
Starlink Regulatory Status in Middle East
- Approved Countries: Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Somalia
- Not Approved: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Impact on Research and Data Collection
The inaccurate geolocation data creates serious problems for internet researchers who rely on IP address mapping to understand global connectivity patterns. APNIC Labs has decided to override Starlink's geolocation data for 20 affected countries, assigning an undefined designation instead of accepting the misleading location information.
This solution helps researchers but doesn't address the underlying challenge of how to properly geolocate satellite internet services. As more companies launch satellite constellations, the internet community will need better standards for handling location data that reflects the reality of space-based connectivity rather than traditional ground-based networks.
The Starlink geolocation issue represents a growing challenge as satellite internet becomes more common. While the technology provides valuable connectivity to remote areas and maritime users, it also disrupts established systems for tracking and regulating internet usage on a national level.
Reference: Geolocation and Starlink