NEW DELHI: India has officially granted operating rights to Starlink, the satellite internet service spearheaded by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a move set to significantly reshape the country’s digital landscape. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed the landmark development on the social media platform X, heralding it as “India’s next frontier of connectivity.”
The approval marks a pivotal moment for Starlink’s long-awaited entry into the Indian market, a process that has involved extensive discussions and regulatory compliance. Scindia, in his X post, stated that he held a “productive meeting” with Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX, where Shotwell “appreciated the license granted to Starlink, calling it a great start to the journey.”
Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation promises to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet access, particularly to remote and underserved areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is limited or non-existent. This technology is expected to be transformative for bridging India’s digital divide and empowering citizens across the vast geographical expanse of the nation.
The nod for Starlink comes after the company secured a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). This positions Starlink as the third entity, alongside Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications, to receive such a license in India. Furthermore, Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already announced partnerships with SpaceX to offer Starlink internet to their customers, indicating a collaborative approach to expanding satellite broadband services across the country.
While an exact launch date for commercial services is yet to be announced, sources suggest that Starlink could begin operations within the next two months. The service is anticipated to offer a standard hardware kit for approximately ₹33,000, with monthly unlimited data plans expected to range between ₹3,000 and ₹4,200. This approval signifies a major leap forward for Digital India, promising to bring robust and reliable internet connectivity to millions who have been historically left behind.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News