NEW DELHI — In a significant development, India has granted a crucial license to Elon Musk’s Starlink, moving the satellite company a step closer to offering its commercial internet services within the nation. This was confirmed by a senior official from the Indian government’s telecommunications department, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
This approval is taking place amidst an ongoing public dispute between Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, which could potentially jeopardize lucrative contracts involving Starlink and the U.S. government. In February, during a U.S. visit, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Musk, where they conversed about Starlink’s long-postponed ventures in India.
Earlier this year, Starlink took substantial steps toward entering the Indian market by forging agreements with the country’s leading telecom companies, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, to launch its satellite internet services in the world’s most populous nation. Despite technological advancements, nearly 40% of India’s population of more than 1.4 billion lacks internet access. Hence, affordably priced satellite broadband is essential, especially to cover rural and mountainous regions which are currently underserved.
Recently, the Indian telecommunications department also awarded a similar license to Reliance Jio, India’s leading telecom provider governed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani. For Starlink, the subsequent stage involves obtaining further clearance from India’s space regulatory authority and acquiring necessary communication frequencies from the government. This process is anticipated to require a couple of months.
Starlink must additionally demonstrate compliance with local security guidelines through rigorous testing and trials, as agreed upon during the licensing procedure. However, pricing constitutes one of the firm’s biggest challenges because India is renowned for offering some of the most economically priced mobile data globally, with instances of Reliance Jio even offering it for free with certain mobile plans.
Currently, Starlink operates the largest satellite constellation globally, comprising over 6,750 satellites that provide low-latency broadband. This connectivity extends especially to areas where internet access was previously non-existent. As the company looks to overcome regulatory hurdles and market challenges, its entry into India’s internet market could significantly boost the country’s digital reach.