India is all set to get satellite-based internet services by the end of this year. Major companies like Starlink (by Elon Musk), Reliance Jio-SES, and Eutelsat OneWeb have received final approval from the Indian space regulator IN-SPACe to begin operations.
These services are expected to roll out between November and December 2025, depending on how quickly the government allocates spectrum — the airwaves required to run satellite internet.
What’s Been Delaying the Launch?
Even though the infrastructure for satellite communication (satcom) has been ready for some time, delays in spectrum allotment have held back the launch. This delay has cost India in terms of both potential revenue and its position as a regional leader in satellite services.
Now, with all three companies receiving their clearances — Starlink recently got its GMPCS license (needed to offer satellite services in India) — the stage is finally set.
What’s Next?
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is expected to assign spectrum by October, based on recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Once that’s done, it will take about a month to launch services. So, users in India could start experiencing high-speed satellite internet by late November or December.
Who Else Is Involved?
- Jio-SES and Eutelsat OneWeb had already received trial spectrum earlier to test and show their services to security agencies.
- Starlink is expected to get trial spectrum soon as well.
- Amazon Kuiper and Globalstar (partnered with Apple) are still waiting for approval.
Big Opportunity for India
India’s space economy is projected to grow to $44 billion by 2033, which would be about 8% of the global market. Satellite internet alone could bring in $1 billion per year in revenue.
There had been debates over how to allot satellite spectrum — through auctions or administrative allocation. The government finally decided to go with administrative allocation, which satellite companies prefer.
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Experts believe that all three approved companies — Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio-SES — will likely launch their services around the same time, as they are also commercially linked and working together in some ways.
