Elon Musk’s Starlink gets nod from Indian govt to go-ahead for satcom services—All you need to know

Elon Musk’s Starlink has received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to launch its satellite internet services in India.

The approval was issued after the satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, agreed to meet the Indian government’s new national security guidelines.

According to sources, Starlink’s application was under review for some time.

The final nod came after Elon Musk’s company committed to the revised security norms rolled out earlier this week.

Starlink uses a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, currently numbering around 7,000, to deliver high-speed internet even in hard-to-reach locations.

Its LEO constellation is expected to expand significantly, surpassing 40,000 satellites.

India has specified stringent security rules for satellite internet providers. Service providers must ensure data remains within Indian borders, barring linking user connections to any overseas terminals or facilities.

A senior official confirmed that the US company’s LoI was granted after Starlink agreed to comply with these updated conditions. “They have accepted the security terms,” the official said. [Source: The Economic Times]

Among the 29 new security conditions are mandatory interception and monitoring mechanisms, use of local data centres, and location tracking for mobile user terminals.

Terminals must now report their location every 2.6 kilometres moved or every minute, whichever is shorter.

The DoT also requires that 20 per cent of the satellite network’s ground segment to be indigenised within the first few years of operation in the country.

The decision comes with India’s military strikes on terror camps across the border in response to the Pahalgam massacre. However, DoT sources stated the decision on Starlink was independent of those events.

During consultations, Starlink earlier expressed reluctance on two points: the requirement to monitor terminals near international borders and the suggestion of a mandatory Indian majority shareholding in satcom companies.

As per reports, the Indian government eventually dropped both requirements.

One official explained, “While the condition was proposed by law enforcement agencies, the DoT felt it can’t be included as it goes against the Telegraph Act.”

Meanwhile, it was agreed that foreign direct investment norms under the existing policy, allowing 100% FDI, would apply, which Starlink had already accepted.

In contrast to players like Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES, which have only been cleared to provide fixed satellite services, Elon Musk’s Starlink would be the first to offer mobile satellite internet services in India under the GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) licence, enabling connectivity on the move.

This could be crucial in emergency response scenarios and for users in transit across remote terrains in India.

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Starlink's pricing

However, affordability could be an issue. Industry reports suggest that monthly subscription prices of Starlink’s services could range between ₹3,000 and ₹7,000, depending on the plan and region.

Additionally, the one-time cost for Starlink's user terminal kit, including a satellite dish and Wi-Fi router, is expected to fall between ₹20,000 and ₹35,000, significantly higher than conventional broadband providers in India, whose monthly rates average around ₹500.

Starlink’s early adopters are likely be businesses, institutions, and residents in underserved or hard-to-reach regions.

Despite the costs being on the higher side, analysts are expecting the service could be a game-changer for rural connectivity. Its high-speed, low-latency performance offers digital access in places where laying fibre or building towers is not feasible.

If supported through government initiatives or subsidies, Starlink can serve well in online education, remote healthcare, and disaster response.

Telecom Minister speaks

“Whether they come or not… they will be very small players even if they come. It is 10 times more expensive than our traditional models,” Union Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said at an industry event on Tuesday.

He added that Starlink is best suited for indoor connectivity in remote areas and not a replacement for mobile or urban broadband services.

Starlink must still receive approvals from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and obtain spectrum allocation from the government before the launch in India.

Meanwhile, Starlink has already inked agreements with Indian telecom giants like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to expand its reach and explore bundled offerings.

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