Elon Musk’s Starlink Gets Green Signal in India: Satellite Internet to Transform Rural Connectivity
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets Green Signal in India: Satellite Internet to Transform Rural Connectivity
Starlink receives license to operate in India; internet speeds between 25–220 Mbps to reach underserved regions by end of 2025
Elon Musk’s Starlink has officially received a unified license to provide satellite-based internet services in India, marking a major leap in the country’s digital expansion efforts. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed the approval and also announced that the policy framework for spectrum allocation and gateway infrastructure has been finalized—clearing the path for a smooth launch.
The announcement came on the momentous occasion marking 30 years since India’s first mobile phone call. Scindia highlighted that Starlink’s entry aligns with the broader vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership over the past 11 years, which has seen the country become a global leader in affordable and inclusive digital technology. India now boasts 1.2 billion telephone connections and nearly 970 million internet users—a 286% increase.
Starlink’s service will offer internet speeds ranging from 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps, with an expected monthly subscription fee of ₹3,000 to ₹4,200. However, the rollout will initially be capped to 20 lakh users. The primary focus will be on providing high-speed internet access to regions where traditional broadband infrastructure is lacking.
To use Starlink, customers will need to purchase a hardware kit including a satellite dish and router, at an estimated price of ₹33,000. These kits are necessary to receive data beamed directly from low-Earth orbit satellites. The gateway structure will connect the satellite data with India’s ground-based internet systems.
Interestingly, Starlink plans to collaborate with Indian telecom giants like Airtel and Jio to distribute the service. This partnership model is expected to bridge the long-standing digital divide in rural areas, empowering villages with reliable internet access.
Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio SES are also awaiting spectrum allocation for their own satellite-based services, hinting at a competitive future in India’s space-powered internet landscape.
Commercial operations are expected to begin by the end of 2025, with pre-bookings likely to open soon. If successful, this move could revolutionize digital accessibility across India, bringing the internet “from the sky” to every doorstep
