Starlink, the satellite internet venture backed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is set to start operations in India soon, according to Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia. The minister confirmed that Starlink will receive the third license for satellite broadband services in the country. Scindia emphasized the importance of satellite connectivity in remote areas where laying physical cables is challenging.
After this, the government will allocate spectrum, and the service will begin soon in the country,” he said. Starlink has been given until June 7 to meet compliance requirements after receiving a Letter of Intent (LoI) on May 7. A senior government official told Moneycontrol that the company has already submitted key security-related documents and provided undertakings to fulfil the new license conditions.
“They will get the license within this month,” the official said. Starlink provides internet by sending radio signals from ground stations up to a large network of satellites orbiting close to Earth, which then beam the data back to users on the ground. The company operates thousands of smaller satellites, each about 22 feet long, flying at a distance of about 550 km above Earth.
This close distance helps reduce delays and allows Starlink to deliver faster internet speeds, ranging from 20 to 250 megabits per second.
Starlink enters Indian internet market
The launch of Starlink in India marks a significant milestone in expanding internet accessibility and bridging the digital divide in underserved and remote areas.
The company has also played a crucial role in providing internet connectivity to war-torn Ukraine and its military after Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Starlink’s application for a crucial satellite communication (satcom) licence has been approved by the Indian government, following the issuance of a letter of intent by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The company has accepted new regulatory requirements and has fulfilled the necessary fee obligations, marking a significant step towards its official entry into the Indian market.
Once granted the GMPCS license, Starlink will be required to get further authorizations from the Indian Space Research Organization’s (In-SPACe) and the inter-ministerial standing committee (IMC). The final regulatory approval will come from the IMC, at which point Starlink will be allocated a provisional spectrum. However, the company will still need to set up gateways, a Network Operations Centre, and ensure lawful interception capabilities before commencing services, which is expected to take approximately nine months.
Pricing for Starlink’s services in India is anticipated to be under Rs. 850 per month, making it an attractive option for satellite internet users. As the race to provide satellite-based internet services heats up, Starlink appears to be ahead of competitors like Amazon Kuiper in terms of regulatory approvals in India.
Kirstie a technology news reporter at DevX. She reports on emerging technologies and startups waiting to skyrocket.
