Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, announced that Elon Musk’s satellite internet project, Starlink, is on the verge of receiving operational clearance in India. He mentioned that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has already provided Starlink with a Letter of Intent (LOI).
The only remaining step is the final green light from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), reports The Print.
“Currently, two companies—OneWeb and Reliance—have received licences for satellite connectivity. The process for Starlink is also nearly complete. The LOI has been issued. And I believe it (Starlink) will get the licence soon. The next step involves securing approval from IN-SPACe. All three licence holders must undergo this process before beginning operations,” Scindia said.
Scindia noted that OneWeb and Reliance have been granted limited spectrum access solely for preliminary testing purposes. Starlink is expected to take a comparable route once it secures official licensing.
“After this, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India will provide policy norms for administrative spectrum allocation, which will govern commercial rollout,” he added.
Elon Musk’s Starlink is nearing the rollout of its services in India. Currently active in over 100 nations, the satellite-based internet provider is focused on delivering fast, low-latency broadband to regions that lack access to conventional internet infrastructure.
What is Starlink?
Starlink, a revolutionary satellite internet initiative by SpaceX, is designed to offer fast, reliable broadband by leveraging a network of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Unlike conventional satellites that operate at much higher altitudes, Starlink’s closer proximity to Earth results in lower latency and more consistent performance. This approach makes it particularly valuable in remote or underserved regions where traditional internet services—such as fiber optics or cellular networks—are limited or unavailable. Starlink aims to deliver seamless, high-speed internet access to areas often overlooked by standard connectivity solutions.
What will Starlink cost in India?
According to a report from The Economic Times, SpaceX is likely to roll out its Starlink satellite internet service in India with unlimited data plans priced under $10 per month (around ₹840) as part of an initial promotional offer. This competitive entry-level pricing could give Starlink a strategic advantage in capturing early market share, positioning it ahead of rivals like Eutelsat OneWeb (supported by the Bharti Group), Reliance Jio’s collaboration with SES, and Globalstar — all of which are gearing up to introduce their own high-speed satellite internet offerings in the country.