A Policy-Aware Cross-Layer Auditing Service for Tiering and Throttling in Starlink

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cross-layer auditing approach for Starlink that uses telemetry and portal data to identify service tiering and throttling policies, enabling effective monitoring without operator input.

Contribution

It presents a novel, policy-aware cross-layer methodology for auditing Starlink's service tiering and throttling, validated through extensive real-world measurements.

Findings

Distinct signatures in goodput, RTT, and internal-to-user ratio for different policy regimes

A lightweight rule effectively separates high-speed from low-rate operation

Validation over a multi-week campaign demonstrates practical applicability

Abstract

We present a policy-aware, cross-layer methodology for edge-side auditing of service tiering and quota-based throttling in Starlink. Using a multi-week plan-hopping campaign (232.8 h) on a UK residential terminal, we align 1 Hz terminal telemetry with host-side probes to obtain portal-labeled traces spanning priority (pre-quota), post-quota throttling, stay-active operation, and residential service. Using portal status only as ground truth (independent of throughput), we show these policy regimes manifest as distinct signatures in goodput, PoP RTT, and an internal-to-user ratio $R=C_{\mathrm{int}}/T_{\mathrm{user}}$. A lightweight rule on windowed medians separates high-speed from low-rate operation without operator visibility.