In a significant development for India's digital connectivity landscape, Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture Starlink has reportedly received official approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to launch satellite communication (SatComm) services in the country.
According to sources quoted by PTI, Starlink has been granted a license to provide internet services using its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. However, as of now, neither Starlink nor the Indian government has issued a formal public statement confirming the development.
The license is expected to allow Starlink to begin pilot trials within the next 15 days, paving the way for its full-scale commercial rollout in the coming months. Once operational, the service aims to bring high-speed internet to even the most remote and underserved areas of India — a move aligned with the government's broader vision of bridging the digital divide.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has earlier recommended the administrative allocation of spectrum for SatComm operators. TRAI also suggested that satellite communication companies pay 4% of their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) as license fees. However, the DoT has yet to formally approve these recommendations.
With the entry of Starlink into India’s internet ecosystem, competition in the SatComm sector is likely to intensify. Other players like OneWeb (backed by Bharti Group) and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are also eyeing opportunities in the Indian market.
If successful, Starlink’s rollout could revolutionize internet access across India's rural, border, and disaster-prone regions, making connectivity truly "gali-gali tak" — accessible in every street and corner.
