Starlink Gains IN-SPACe Nod, But Faces Fierce Competition in India’s Satellite Internet Race

New Delhi, July 9 — Elon Musk’s Starlink has cleared a major regulatory hurdle in India, receiving authorisation from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), according to sources on Wednesday. But while this paves the way for the satellite internet pioneer’s official launch, Starlink now enters an increasingly crowded and competitive satellite communications market.

Having secured licenses in early June to operate GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) services, VSAT services, and ISP Category-A under the unified license framework, Starlink becomes the third major player to gain approval from India’s Department of Telecom, joining rivals OneWeb and Reliance Jio.

Despite its technological edge and the global recognition of Musk’s ventures, Starlink faces significant challenges as it seeks to carve out market share. OneWeb already has partnerships and momentum, while Reliance Jio, with its vast financial muscle and deep market penetration, could become a formidable competitor in satellite broadband.

Moreover, in a move that signals both opportunity and dependency, Starlink has opted to partner with India’s two largest telecom giants Airtel and Jio to leverage their dealer networks for distribution and customer acquisition. While these partnerships may accelerate Starlink’s reach, they also tie the company to existing telecom ecosystems and potentially limit its autonomy in pricing and service differentiation.

India’s satellite broadband market, though ripe with opportunity, is not without hurdles. High equipment costs, regulatory complexities, and intense price sensitivity among rural consumers could slow widespread adoption. Although satellite internet promises to bridge the connectivity gap in remote regions, Starlink and its competitors must navigate operational costs and competitive tariffs to remain viable in a market traditionally dominated by low-cost terrestrial networks.

Starlink’s arrival, however, signals a transformative phase in India’s digital inclusion drive. As the government prioritises connecting underserved areas, satellite telecom may finally emerge from the shadows to play a central role in India’s internet infrastructure. The coming months will reveal whether Starlink can translate regulatory clearances and strategic partnerships into meaningful market success or whether entrenched rivals and local realities will blunt Musk’s starry ambitions in the world’s most populous nation.