Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, has received the final go-ahead from India’s space regulator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). This approval clears the last major regulatory hurdle for Starlink to begin offering its commercial satellite broadband services in India.
According to the final authorisation document issued by IN-SPACe, Starlink can now proceed with launching its operations in the country. This marks a significant step towards making affordable satellite-based internet available to users across India, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Before starting full-scale operations, Starlink will need to acquire spectrum from the government and build ground infrastructure. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is expected to grant trial spectrum to the company, allowing it to carry out necessary security compliance demonstrations.
Starlink has already signed its first commercial agreements with VSAT providers in India. These Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) service providers deliver satellite-based internet and communication services in regions with little or no terrestrial connectivity.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently confirmed that all due diligence on the government’s part has been completed. “Once they receive the necessary regulatory and licensing approvals from the space regulator, they can roll out the service in the country whenever they wish to,” he said.
The space regulator had earlier issued a draft letter of intent to the company, indicating its plans to support the service’s entry into the Indian market.
Starlink delivers internet through a large network of satellites orbiting Earth and currently operates the world’s largest satellite constellation, with more than 6,750 satellites in orbit. The service is already available in several countries, including Mongolia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, Yemen, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a competitor to Starlink, is still awaiting approvals from both the DoT and IN-SPACe. Project Kuiper also plans a major satellite communication rollout in India.
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