Elon Musk’s Starlink Gets Licence to Launch in India

 In a significant development for India’s connectivity landscape, Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, Starlink, has received official clearance to begin operations in the country. The Department of Telecommunications has granted Starlink the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, making it the third company in India to receive such approval.

Paving the Way for Satellite Broadband

Starlink now joins the ranks of other satellite internet service providers such as OneWeb and Reliance Jio-Satellite. With this licence, Starlink is set to roll out high-speed satellite-based internet services across India, particularly targeting remote and underserved areas where terrestrial networks struggle to reach.

What’s Next for Starlink in India?

Though licensed, Starlink must now complete several formalities before launch:

Obtain spectrum allocation from the government

Build ground infrastructure including gateways and terminals.

Secure security and space-related approvals.

Comply with operational guidelines and tariffs.

These steps are expected to take a few more months, pushing the commercial launch timeline toward late 2025 or early 2026.

Why This Matters for India

India still has large internet blackspots, especially in hilly terrain, tribal regions, and border areas. Starlink’s satellite-based service, delivered through low-earth orbit satellites, could revolutionize digital access in such locations, providing:

High-speed internet in difficult terrains.

Boosts to education, healthcare, e-governance, and local entrepreneurship.

Support for emergency communication services in disaster-prone zones.

The Bigger Picture

The Indian government’s approach of administratively allocating satellite spectrum ensures affordability and accessibility. This move also aligns with the broader vision of making Digital India a reality, bridging the rural-urban divide in digital infrastructure