NEW DELHI, June 6: Elon Musk-led Starlink, the affordable satellite internet venture, has officially received a satellite communication (satcom) licence in India and is gearing up to launch its commercial services in the country, possibly by the end of this year or early 2026.

Reliable sources confirmed that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted Starlink the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, marking a major step forward for the U.S.-based company’s operations in India.

Starlink now becomes the third satellite internet company to be licensed under the GMPCS framework, following Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Jio-SES, and is expected to help further expand satellite internet access across the country.

The company has reportedly met all security compliance requirements outlined in its letter of intent (LoI), paving the way for the DoT to issue the trial spectrum in the coming days.

Before it can begin services, Starlink also requires final clearance from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), to which it has already submitted all necessary documentation.

The DoT granted initial approval to Starlink after the company agreed to adhere to the government’s updated national security guidelines for satellite communication operators. These include 29 new conditions such as Mandatory interception and monitoring mechanisms, Use of local data centres, Location tracking for mobile user terminals and Data localisation mandates

In April 2025, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with a delegation from Starlink, including Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight, to discuss the company’s cutting-edge technology platform, ongoing partnerships, and future investment plans in India.

“Met a delegation from Starlink, comprising Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director, Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink’s cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships and future investment plans in India,” Goyal shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) after the meeting held on April 16.

The meeting also came amid growing interest from domestic telecom operators. Airtel is reportedly in touch with Starlink regarding possible satellite internet service partnerships, while Vodafone Idea has also expressed interest in collaborating with the Musk-led firm to offer satellite communication solutions in India.

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has highlighted the importance of satellite-based internet services, particularly in addressing the connectivity challenges faced by India’s rural and remote regions.