New Delhi, June 21:
In a significant development for India’s digital communication landscape, the Centre has granted approval to Starlink, the satellite internet division of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to operate in the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a license to the company under the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite Services (GMPCS) category, allowing it to offer broadband services via satellite technology across India.
With this clearance, Starlink becomes the third entity to receive such a license, following Bharti-backed OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications. The move is seen as a strategic step toward improving internet accessibility in rural and remote parts of the country, where conventional infrastructure has limited reach.
Starlink’s satellite-based service utilizes low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver high-speed internet. Officials believe this can be a game-changer in regions such as border areas, mountainous zones, and disaster-prone districts where ground-based networks face logistical hurdles.
While the license is a major milestone, the company must now seek spectrum allocation from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) and obtain frequency-related permissions from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing. Commercial rollout is expected only after these technical approvals are secured.
The Indian government has made it clear that all satellite internet providers must comply with national security protocols, including data localization norms, which require user data to be stored within the country. Starlink has reportedly assured compliance with these regulations and is exploring partnerships with local telecom operators for service deployment.
Industry observers believe the entry of Starlink will foster competition in India’s broadband sector and improve connectivity in underserved regions. The government views this initiative as complementary to its Digital India vision, which aims to provide reliable digital services to every citizen, regardless of geography.
No timeline has yet been announced for when services will commence. However, it is expected that the initial focus will be on regions with low internet penetration, including parts of Central India, the Northeast, and tribal belts.
