TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands sTARLINK IN THE bvi

What is the situation with Starlink in the BVi I just got a message from Starlink. Seems Starlink is not approved for the BVI. Comments?

I think the risk is that the BVI government could withhold their regulatory approval under pressure from local system operators, forcing Starlink to geofence the area. I haven't gotten the letter, but I'm also not currently there.

I think that is what is happening.

When will the BVI allow Starlink to be used. Starlink is now going to stop service to starlink users.

Cruisers in Grenada got notices that services would end August 21. Cruisers with the maritime mobile package did not get notice. Mine is deactivated and I did not receive a notice.

Cheers, RickG

Interesting, we have mobile priority which is a plan listed under Starlink’s Maritime plans. We had full coverage for over 4 months while cruising in both the USVI and BVI. There was never an interruption in service.

My guess would be not that they geo-block the service as such, just that you cannot be based in the BVI. That way they get to ignore the BVI government (we don't supply the service to your islands) and can still service their customers "transiting" the area. While it is just a guess, it seems that I have heard of other times when the "service" was not available to people, but those from outside the area still had internet access. Obviously ymmv....

Keep Smiling!!!

I talked to our IT guy.

He said you need to ship and configure the Starlink device to a location covered by Starlink.

After that, you can bring it to the BVI and set it to "Roam" functionality and it works.

Priority accounts may be disabled if not government approved ($250 month/1Tb)), but Mobile Global ($400 month/unlimited) and Mobile Priority ($250/50Gb and $1000/1Tb) should work anywhere (including the BVI).

"I think the risk is that the BVI government could withhold their regulatory approval under pressure from local system operators... "
This is exactly the scenario. One of the local cell providers is locally owned. It was like pulling hen's teeth to get the third cell company in years ago.
Locally there are vessels using StarLink, but they have used a St. Thomas or St. Johnian local address.

You cannot manually configure it. The Starlink receiver continually determines its position from its internal GPS.

This is the text of the Starlink email that I received last week (August 14)

The goal of Starlink is to provide reliable high-speed, low-latency internet to people all around the world, especially for those in rural and remote areas where internet connectivity has not been available, unreliable or too expensive. To do so, we're working as quickly as possible to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals from local governments globally to be allowed to offer Starlink services in as many places as possible.

As outlined in our Terms of Service, the availability of our Mobile Service Plans is contingent upon various factors, including regulatory approvals. The "Mobile – Regional" plans are intended for temporary travel and transit, not for permanent use in a location. If you have been using a "Mobile - Regional" plan for more than two months outside of the country in which you ordered Starlink, you must either see Support FAQs to change your account country or return to the country in which your service was ordered. Otherwise, starting 21 August 2024, you will be unable to connect to the internet except to access your Starlink account where you can make updates to your account.

You can read our Terms of Service for more details on our Mobile service plans. Please contact Support if you have additional questions.

The Starlink team


My Starlink was ordered in the US (Ft. Lauderdale), and I have been using it since early 2023 on Anegada.

Today is the 21 August 2024 and my Starlink is still online. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

If you read carefully, the Mobile Global plan states Use Starlink at any location on land across the globe with active service coverage.
The BVI does not have active service coverage. If they cut us off, someone might give it a go and see if it works...

More like Starlink is not willing to play the necessary bribes. Bribery is the foundation of BVI business.

Maybe. They have my respect and support if that is the case.

99% of what is in this thread is above my head, but I know someone currently staying in St Maarten at a hotel, where the hotel just got cut off because of similar issues with Starlink.

@duckfat - how is your Starlink running out on Anegada now?

100%. Never went offline. I received the warning email and waited to see what was going to happen on August 21. Nothing happened. I'm not certain, but I think I may have the only Starlink here that is still operational. I know others did go offline on August 21.

still online

Did you apply and give a deposit for a residential Starlink? I did - and I think that's why I am still online.

Starlink just restricted my starlink so it no longer works. They want me to bring back to Vero Beach. If I bringback to Vero Beach and turn it on , I don't know if I can bring back to BVI for another 2 months? Big problem for me! Anyone still online?

Ouch, I was thinking about buying a starlink mini for the BVI.

O i think the BVI will never allow Starlink or if they do it will be years. Meanwhile I have no internet and the local companies will not connect me. Told me too difficult. We do a lot of Zoom calls and need the bandwidth.

I brought mine recently (Nov/Dec) and it worked fine. It may still work if you are just coming for a few weeks rather than using a unit purchased elsewhere long term, may be running into a time based limitation.

If you pay for Starlink Roam it'll probably still work but I don't have personal experience. More expensive of course. You might have to take it on the ferry to USVI every now and then just to convince them you really are using it as a mobile

I have Starlink Roam. It worked from the time that I installed it (February, 2023) until November of 2024. Others here on Anegada were shut down before mine, but mine is now restricted also. I am now on CCT cellular, which is not reliable at all.

I know two people here that have taken their Starlink units back to where they were registered, connected it there, then brought them back to Anegada and used them for another two months. In fact, Andrew at Tipsy has three Starlink Roam units. He makes periodic trips to the US and "renews" two of them at a time so that he always has a working Starlink in the rotation.

What is the process to "renew" Just bring it back to your home address. Turn it on for how long , shut it down and bring back to BVI for another 2 months.?
Do you have to bring back both the router and the antenna or the antenna only. Atre the router and antenna married. I.e. can any router be used with an antenna.?

Router and Antenna are not coupled, it is the antenna that needs to get "reacquired" at the home continent billing location to reset.

Yes I figured this out. Now I have 2 starlink antennas which I can switch . do you know how long i need to turn on the antenna to reset, like 2 days? I may buy a third antenna so I will always have 2 antennas in reserve. Hopefully some day the BVI will allow Starlink to be used. It is easy for me to do this as we have our own plane to transport these units. Plane also has the airborne starlink on board.