Elon Musk’s satellite‑internet venture has obtained its space regulator’s final approval to launch commercial services, removing the only remaining legal obstacle after securing a telecom licence last month. This paves the way for Starlink to become the third satellite broadband operator in India, alongside Eutelsat‑OneWeb and Reliance Jio‑SES.
The Department of Telecommunications issued Starlink the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite permit in early June, marking a pivotal step towards nationwide commercial deployment. Space regulator IN‑SPACe has now finalised its authorisation—pending Starlink’s formal acceptance and countersignature—bringing the company on par with its established rivals.
Starlink must still secure dedicated spectrum, construct ground infrastructure, and complete stringent security trials before service can commence. Officials indicate the spectrum will be allocated administratively rather than via auction, aligning with Starlink’s position over competing demands that included those from Reliance Jio.
The security evaluation phase remains critical. Indian authorities have insisted that all satellite‑based traffic must transit through domestic gateways and comply with legal interception protocols. Supply chain localisation and gateway siting near international borders will also be mandated. Past concerns over unauthorised Starlink usage in border regions prompted increased scrutiny by the ministry of home affairs and Department of Telecommunications earlier this year.
Starlink joins an increasingly competitive satellite broadband landscape. Eutelsat‑OneWeb received its GMPCS licence in August 2021 and full permissions in late 2023, while Jio‑SES obtained its telecom licence in March 2022 and space clearance by mid‑2024. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper awaits its approvals.
Local telecom giants are now preparing partnerships with satellite providers to enhance connectivity. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio signed pacts with Starlink earlier this year to deliver broadband across remote regions once authorisations were finalised. These alliances reflect a broader push by India to extend digital infrastructure to underserved rural and mountainous communities, where roughly 40 percent of the population remains without reliable internet access.
Starlink’s global network now spans over 6,750 satellites and serves diverse markets from Antarctica to developing Asia. In India, the company faces challenges adapting to the country’s famously low data prices, with mobile rates among the world’s cheapest. Each operator must also comply with provisions demanding indigenisation of at least 20 percent of ground infrastructure and multilayered security approval regimes.
As New Delhi aligns satellite spectrum policy—including assigning bandwidth for five‑year terms at a fee capped at 4 percent of adjusted gross revenue—operators will negotiate additional urban or rural levies and infrastructure contributions. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s consultations with SpaceX executives signal sustained governmental interest in leveraging satellite technologies to bolster India’s digital ambitions.
Starlink’s entry marks a significant shift in India’s telecom ecosystem. It promises to elevate broadband penetration in neglected geographies while testing the resilience of India’s stringent regulatory and security frameworks. The speed at which Starlink secures spectrum, builds its ground presence, and satisfies national interception mandates will determine how soon millions of users beyond urban centres experience high-speed satellite internet.