New Delhi (National Times): In a major development for India’s satellite communication sector, Elon Musk-led Starlink has secured a licence to provide satellite-based communication (satcom) services in the country, sources in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) confirmed on Thursday.
With this approval, Starlink becomes the third company to be granted a satcom licence by the Indian government, following in the footsteps of Bharti Group-backed OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications.
According to sources, Starlink is expected to apply for trial spectrum soon, and the DoT is prepared to allot the required airwaves within 15 to 20 days of receiving the application.
The licence allows Starlink to offer broadband services across India using its low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, especially targeting remote and underserved regions with limited or no internet access.
Starlink, a division of Musk’s SpaceX, has been in discussions with Indian authorities for over two years. Its entry into the Indian satcom market is seen as a boost to the government’s Digital India initiative, as satellite internet is poised to bridge the digital divide in rural and geographically difficult terrains.
Industry experts believe that the arrival of Starlink will intensify competition in India’s satellite broadband sector and may accelerate the rollout of high-speed internet across the country.
