Elon Musk’s Starlink just got the final green signal to launch satellite broadband in India. The approval came from IN-SPACe, India’s space tech regulator. This was the last big step before Starlink can begin its operations in the country.
Just a few weeks ago, Starlink secured its GMPCS license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). With this, it becomes the third company to fully enter the satellite internet race in India—after Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio.
But approval is just the start.
Starlink still needs to get spectrum from the Indian government. It also has to build ground stations and pass national security tests. These trials are important to make sure the network is safe and reliable.
As part of its launch plan, Starlink will set up at least three gateway stations in India. These stations help connect the satellites in space to users on the ground.
To help with this, the DoT will soon give Starlink trial spectrum. This will allow the company to carry out its security and technical checks.
At the same time, the government is working on setting up rules and pricing for giving out satellite spectrum. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already shared its recommendations.
While waiting for final spectrum clearance, Starlink has already made moves. It has signed its first commercial deals with VSAT providers in India. This means it plans to start offering enterprise and government broadband services soon.
That’s not all.
Sources say Starlink may also launch direct-to-consumer internet plans through its website. However, final prices for customers are still being worked out.
Meanwhile, the competition is heating up.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is still waiting for its approvals from both DoT and IN-SPACe. Even though it has cleared its technical checks, its application is still pending review.
Kuiper plans to build a much larger network in India. It wants 10 gateway stations and two major access points in Mumbai and Chennai. That’s more than Starlink’s three initial gateways.
Right now, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES each have two gateways.
Starlink and Kuiper both aim to offer services to businesses, governments, and regular users. This means India is heading into a three-way battle for satellite internet dominance.
With Starlink’s final nod, the game is on. And India is one step closer to nationwide satellite broadband.
Also Read Elon Musk’s Starlink May Have to Share Data with Indian Government for Security Reasons
