NEW DELHI, May 8: Elon Musk’s affordable satellite internet service, Starlink, is edging closer to launching in India after receiving a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecom (DoT). This initial approval comes after Starlink agreed to comply with India’s new national security guidelines for satellite communication (satcom) operators.
The DoT announced 29 additional requirements for satcom licensees, including mandatory interception and monitoring mechanisms, use of local data centres, location tracking for mobile user terminals, and localization mandates. Following the approval, Starlink is now awaiting further approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) before the spectrum can be allocated to the satellite internet service. Starlink has already submitted the necessary documents for this process.
In the previous month, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with top executives from Starlink, including Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight, to discuss the company’s investment plans for India. Goyal took to X to confirm that the meeting focused on Starlink’s technology platform, existing partnerships, and future plans in the country.
Meanwhile, domestic telecom giants such as Airtel and Vodafone Idea are reportedly in talks with Starlink to explore the possibility of launching satellite telecom services in India. Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also emphasized the need for satellite internet, particularly in rural areas. Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, aims to provide high-speed internet access to underserved areas worldwide.
Starlink’s satellite internet service, which promises to deliver reliable internet globally, could be a game-changer for internet connectivity in rural and remote areas of India. SpaceX, under Musk’s leadership, has already made history as the first private company to deliver astronauts to and from the International Space Station and complete an all-civilian crew mission to orbit. Musk is also looking forward to visiting India later this year.
