1. Historic Approval from IN‑SPACe
Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite venture, Starlink, has today received final regulatory clearance from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN‑SPACe), officially authorizing its satellite services in India after years of delays. The move follows last month’s telecom ministry approval, marking the end of Starlink’s protracted two‑year journey since its initial 2022 application.
2. Final Regulatory Piece in Place
With IN‑SPACe’s endorsement in hand, Starlink, the third firm to earn both telecom and space clearances after Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio, is now fully licensed to deploy and operate its Gen 1 low‑Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation across India.
3. Steps Leading to Today’s Nod
- June 2025: Starlink was awarded a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence by India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), permitting satellite broadband services.
- DoT letter of intent: Finalized terms requiring adherence to updated technical and security standards.
- IN‑SPACe approval: The concluding step in the process, officially enabling commercial service deployment.
4. What Comes Next
Securing the licence is only the beginning. Starlink now needs to:
- Apply for and obtain satellite spectrum (via administrative allocation, not auction).
- Establish ground infrastructure, including earth stations, gateways, and network control centers, across India.
- Conduct technical and security testing in compliance with national standards and obtain final clearances before commercial rollout.
5. Spectrum Allocation & Industry Pushback
TRAI has recommended a five‑year satellite spectrum licence, renewable by two years, with fees set at 4 % of adjusted gross revenue plus fees for urban users, while rural subscribers are exempt. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have raised concerns that this lower rate may unfairly benefit Starlink versus terrestrial telecom players. India’s government, however, supports administrative allocation over auction for satellite services.
6. Major Collaborations in Place
Ahead of its commercial launch, Starlink has lined up distribution partnerships with India’s telecom leaders, including Airtel and Jio, to leverage their dealer networks and retail presence.
7. Aiming for Digital Inclusion
With over 40 % of India’s 1.4 billion population lacking reliable internet—especially in rural, mountainous, and disaster‑prone regions—Starlink’s LEO satellite broadband promises low‑latency, high‑speed connectivity potentially ranging from 25 Mbps to over 200 Mbps. Hardware costs are expected around ₹33,000, with monthly plans around ₹3,000 and introductory rates under ₹850.
8. Anticipated Timeline
With IN‑SPACe’s approval secured, Starlink could begin trials and demos soon. Final commercial operations may launch by late 2025 or early 2026, depending on spectrum allocation, final security clearances, and infrastructure setup.
The Final Word
India’s green light positions Starlink as a key player in bridging rural connectivity gaps. The company must now navigate the final km of spectrum allocation, site deployments, and regulatory compliance. If executed swiftly, Starlink could start reshaping India’s digital landscape within the next 6–12 months.
