Elon Musk’s Starlink has moved a significant step closer to launching its satellite internet service in India. The company, as per sources quoted by Reuters, has obtained a key license from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), paving the way past a significant hurdle for commencing commercial operations in the nation.
Starlink joining the ranks of licensed satellite providers
With this new license, Starlink is the third company to be officially permitted to provide satellite communications services in India, after Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm. The license allows Starlink to provide satellite broadband, voice, and messaging across India, focusing on rural and underserved areas.
Starlink had been holding out for this clearance since 2022. Previous delays were caused by fears of national security and data localization rules. Now, after committing to obey India’s data storage and data transfer rules, Starlink has reached the finish line at last.
Partnership with Airtel and Jio
Back in May, Starlink inked initial agreements with India’s telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. Both operators intend to complement their current networks with Starlink satellite technology to improve connectivity in far-flung areas, schools, and healthcare facilities.
Airtel plans to retail Starlink gear at its stores and cater to business clients. Jio intends to sell Starlink devices from its outlets and websites, providing installation assistance as well.
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Hence, by combining their vast infrastructure with Starlink’s satellite technology, the two operators hope to provide better internet to areas of India that have long remained offline or inadequately connected.
Spectrum allocation and government support
The approval of the license came after some controversy surrounding the allocation of satellite spectrum. Eventually, Jio and Starlink had divergent opinions, Starlink sought spectrum to be allotted directly, whereas Jio advocated auctioning it. The Indian government agreed with Starlink’s method, and the move might make it quicker and simpler for satellite internet companies to deploy services.
The decision may also affect other petitioners such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper, whose clearance has yet to be given.
Learning from the past, looking ahead
This is not the first try for Starlink to enter the Indian market. In 2021, the company was instructed to stop taking pre-bookings and refund customers until there were proper approvals in place. This time, Starlink met all regulatory requirements, including strict data localization, speeding up approval.
A recent EY and Indian Space Association (ISpA) report outlined the vast potential for expansion, estimating India’s space economy to hit $13 billion by 2025. Satellite internet was identified as a central component of this growth, particularly in reaching rural and remote areas.
Looking ahead
Starlink’s license is a significant milestone for India’s digital connectivity profile. With strong partnerships and government support, the firm is expected to bring satellite internet to millions currently beyond reach. Nonetheless, as India remains committed to increasing internet coverage, satellite technology may become a key component in bridging the digital divide.