Starlink, Elon Musk’s Satellite Internet Service, Nears Approval for Operations in India, May Launch Soon
Starlink, Elon Musk's Satellite Internet Service, Nears Approval for Operations in India, May Launch Soon
Starlink, the space-based broadband venture led by Elon Musk, is on the brink of securing approval to commence operations in India. The Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) awaits clarification on Starlink’s shareholding pattern, and the nod could arrive in the coming days.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is poised to issue a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Starlink upon receiving the necessary details. Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal and Communications Secretary Ashwini Vaishnaw are expected to provide official approval by next week.
Once approved, Starlink will join Reliance Jio and OneWeb as the third company in India to secure a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) license.
The license empowers Starlink to offer messaging, voice, and broadband services to individuals and organizations in India. Beyond government approval, Satcom players, including Starlink, must seek clearance from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) for space-related activities. Spectrum allotment by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is the subsequent step.
It’s noteworthy that Starlink faced scrutiny from the Telecom Ministry in 2021 for collecting advance payments from subscribers before obtaining the license, leading to a directive to refund pre-order customers.
Elon Musk’s ambitious satellite communication project is poised to revolutionize internet connectivity worldwide, and its foray into the Indian market is eagerly anticipated.
