Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is moving closer to its official launch in India. The company has reportedly started mandatory security evaluations in the country, one of the last key steps before commercial rollout. This progress has fueled speculation that Starlink’s launch may coincide with the final approval of regulatory pricing rules and spectrum allocations in the coming months.
Reports indicate that Starlink has received provisional spectrum approval for demonstrations and is conducting compliance tests required for all telecom and satellite communication operators before large-scale consumer deployment. The company is also said to be setting up ground infrastructure, including several gateway earth stations across major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Lucknow. These hubs will connect Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit satellite network with local internet systems.
According to sources, Starlink has initially requested around 600Gbps capacity from its Gen-1 satellite fleet and sought permission to import a limited number of user terminals for fixed-service trials. During these tests, the company will likely follow strict data localisation norms and India-specific gateway operations under close government monitoring.
Starlink aims to bridge connectivity gaps in remote and rural areas where fibre and mobile networks are limited. Its focus on direct-to-consumer services sets it apart from rivals that primarily cater to businesses and government clients. For urban users, Starlink could serve as a high-speed backup or even a primary connection in areas prone to frequent network outages.
However, several dependencies remain before a full-scale rollout can begin. The final framework for satellite internet tariffs, long-term spectrum allocation, and complete security clearances will determine the pace of deployment. Even with its growing network of gateways and ongoing trials, broad public access may only start in 2026, with gradual expansion across cities and rural regions as logistics and support networks develop.
Once launched, Starlink will compete with Jio SpaceFiber and OneWeb, operated by Reliance Jio and Eutelsat, in the Indian satellite internet space. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) also plans to introduce satellite broadband services, though specific details of its offerings remain unclear.
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