Starlink receives regulatory approval for satellite internet service in India

Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, a satellite internet service provided by SpaceX, has received approval to operate its services in India. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Starlink for Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS), Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), and Internet Service Provider (ISP) licenses in the country.

The LoI was issued after Starlink agreed to comply with India’s new licensing security requirements, which include lawful interception capabilities, gateway security clearance, local manufacturing, and data localization. In India, Starlink will compete with Eutelsat, OneWeb, and the Jio-SES joint venture to provide satellite-based internet services. However, the company must meet all licensing conditions to obtain the final license.

“Yes, Starlink has been issued LoI by the DOT for GMPCS, VSAT, and ISP licenses in India. The LoI came after it gave an undertaking to meet license conditions and security protocols under the new revised security guidelines. The final license will be given once Starlink is able to fulfill all license conditions,” a government source said to MoneyControl.

Starlink also needs approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) and spectrum allocation from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) before it can launch commercial services in India.

For the unaware, Starlink uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, operating 550 km above the Earth’s surface, to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet services. Currently, the company uses around 7000 satellites to provide high-speed internet even in remote areas where traditional internet is not feasible. Starlink is available in over 125 countries across the world.

According to reports, Starlink is expected to provide up to 300 Mbps internet speed in India, with subscription costs ranging from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 7000 per month based on plan and location. Additionally, users will be required to purchase the Starlink kit, which includes a Wi-Fi router and a satellite dish, priced between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 35,000. While these costs are significantly higher than traditional fiber or mobile internet services, Starlink aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity to people in rural and remote regions.