SpaceX Set To Seek Permit From Govt To Offer Starlink Satellite Internet Services In India: Report

SpaceX is all set to apply for a permit from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for its Starlink satellite internet services.

The company will submit a request with the DoT for global personal communications by satellite services (GMPCS) permit, reports Economic Times.

If allowed, this permit would enable the Elon Musk led company to launch broadband-from-space services in India. 

The move will pit SpaceX against Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb and Reliance Jio's satellite arm in the nascent satellite internet market in India, which is expected to be worth $13 billion by 2025.

"SpaceX will very shortly apply for a GMPCS licence to the Indian authorities to start satellite broadband services in the country," a person directly aware of the matter was quoted in the ET report as saying.

The company is likely to seek approvals from DoT to set up local gateways, which are to establish in-country earth stations (satellite gateways) and also deploy its global satellite bandwidth capacity in India.

The development comes as the government had earlier this year asked Starlink to refund all its pre-orders until it received licence to operate in India.