Elon Musk’s Starlink Gets Telecom Ministry Nod To Operate Satellite Internet Services In India: Report

The Ministry of Communications has granted Elon Musk’s Starlink a key licence to offer satellite communication services in India, news agency Reuters reported citing sources.

With this approval, Starlink has become the third licensed player in India’s satellite communications space, after Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications.

The development comes after Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s confirmed Starlink’s entry as India’s third licensed satellite internet provider, alongside Jio and OneWeb.

“And after this, the government will provide the spectrum. Subsequently, satellite telecom services will be fully operational in the country at a rapid pace. I am sure the customer base in India will grow substantially,” Scindia said.

The approval comes after Starlink agreed to comply with India’s stringent security and data localisation norms, including establishing a command and control centre in the country.

Additionally, the company is awaiting clearance from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to operate its satellites in Indian airspace, a process reportedly in its final stages.

On 9 May, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended a 4 per cent adjusted gross revenue (AGR) spectrum charge and an 8 per cent AGR license fee for satcom operators.

Starlink has also partnered with telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to distribute its services, leveraging their dominance in India’s telecom market.The impending launch is expected to transform internet access, particularly in rural and remote areas, addressing India’s digital divide.

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