Elon Musk's Starlink Gets Green Light To Launch Satellite Internet Services In India
In a significant development for India’s digital landscape, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia revealed on Tuesday that Starlink has been officially granted a license to operate in India.
The Elon Musk-backed internet technology firm, which leverages satellite communications to deliver high-speed internet, will now enter one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.
Major Boost for India’s Digital Ambitions
Sharing details of his meeting with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, Scindia posted on X: “Had a productive meeting with Ms Gwynne Shotwell, President & COO of SpaceX, on India’s next frontier in connectivity. We delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India’s soaring ambitions and empower every citizen across the country. With India’s digital revolution under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, satellite technologies are not just relevant, they’re transformative. Ms Shotwell appreciated the license granted to Starlink, calling it a great start to the journey."
Starlink’s entry has already triggered intense discussion within the Indian telecom sector. Debates have emerged around key issues such as spectrum allocation and concerns of predatory pricing, as industry stakeholders assess the implications of this new competition.
Partnerships and Growing Competition
Earlier in March, India’s dominant telecom players—Jio and Airtel—announced collaborations with SpaceX to integrate Starlink’s services into their offerings. These two telecom giants collectively command more than 70 per cent of India’s market share, and their partnerships with SpaceX are expected to play a crucial role in shaping Starlink’s rollout in the country, reported The Hindustan Times.
With this new license, Starlink becomes the third entity cleared by India’s Department of Telecommunications to deliver satellite-based internet services. The other two are Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Kuiper project remains under review, still awaiting the necessary regulatory clearances to join the race.
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How Starlink Operates: The Low Earth Orbit Advantage
Unlike traditional satellite providers that depend on high-altitude geostationary satellites, Starlink employs an extensive network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites positioned about 550 kilometers above the planet’s surface. This LEO constellation currently includes around 7,000 satellites, with plans to eventually expand to more than 40,000 units. By operating in this lower orbit and using a mesh network, Starlink can offer broadband speeds suitable for demanding activities such as video streaming, online gaming, and virtual meetings.
Developed under the banner of SpaceX—founded in 2002 by Elon Musk—Starlink represents Musk’s vision of bridging the global digital divide through space-based internet solutions. Its entry into India marks another step in Musk’s larger plan to expand global connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved regions.
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