Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, has recently achieved a significant milestone by obtaining key regulatory approval from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), marking an important step towards launching its satellite internet services in the country. The approval came in the form of the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, which authorizes Starlink to provide satellite-based internet services within India. This makes Starlink the third company to receive such authorization, following Bharti Airtel-Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio. The announcement of this development was made by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who also revealed that the next critical phase involves the allocation of spectrum to Starlink. Once this step is completed, the company is expected to begin offering its services at scale.

Starlink is operated by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace and space transport company, which has been keenly interested in the Indian market since 2021. However, the company’s initial plans to roll out services in India were hindered due to regulatory challenges, forcing Starlink to halt its operations temporarily and refund pre-orders made by Indian customers. The recent regulatory clearance signifies a fresh and stronger push into India, which is considered one of the most promising satellite internet markets globally. This move also intensifies the competition in the satellite internet space, where other major players, such as Amazon with its Project Kuiper, are still awaiting government approvals to enter the market.

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia underscored the crucial role satellite internet connectivity plays in bridging India’s digital divide. He emphasized that satellite-based services are particularly vital for reaching remote, rural, and underserved areas where traditional internet infrastructure such as fiber optic cables or mobile networks are difficult or costly to deploy. Historically, India’s connectivity began with fixed-line telephone networks, and over time evolved to include mobile connectivity, broadband, and optical fiber. Scindia highlighted that satellite connectivity now forms an essential addition to this suite of communication technologies, capable of bringing internet access to parts of the country that remain offline or poorly connected.

The acquisition of the GMPCS licence is expected to accelerate the growth of India’s satellite communications sector. Starlink and other satellite internet providers use low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations to deliver broadband internet from space, offering high-speed connectivity with lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites. This technology holds the potential to revolutionize how internet services are delivered across India, enabling more reliable and widespread internet coverage that can benefit education, healthcare, commerce, and governance, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

The entry of Starlink into the Indian market with government backing also signals India’s broader ambitions to enhance its digital infrastructure and inclusion goals. By integrating satellite internet into the national connectivity ecosystem, India aims to ensure that digital benefits reach every corner of the country, thus supporting socio-economic development. With the upcoming spectrum allocation and the launch of services, Starlink’s presence is poised to contribute significantly towards transforming the digital landscape in India, making internet access faster, more reliable, and more widely available than ever before.

In summary, Starlink’s regulatory clearance marks a critical step forward in expanding satellite internet in India, promising enhanced connectivity for underserved regions and fostering competition in the telecom sector. The government’s recognition of satellite connectivity’s importance alongside traditional technologies highlights a holistic approach to bridging the digital divide. As Starlink prepares to launch its services, India stands on the brink of a new era in satellite broadband, poised to reshape connectivity across the subcontinent.