Elon Musk’s Starlink Prepares to Launch Satcom Services in India

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, is preparing to launch satellite communication services in India, as per the news reports. The company holds a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, valid for 20 years, which permits it to provide satellite-based voice and data. 

In July, Starlink also received authorisation from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to operate its Gen 1 satellite constellation in the country. The allocation of operational spectrum by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) remains pending.

Focus on Rural Users

At the India Mobile Congress, Starlink India market access director Parnil Urdhwareshe said that the company’s main focus in India will be rural areas. He noted that most of Starlink’s customers worldwide are rural households that lack reliable broadband. In urban centres such as Mumbai, the potential customer base would be only about one-tenth of that in rural districts.

Spectrum and Fees

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has proposed that satcom operators pay either 4% of adjusted gross revenue or ₹3,500 per MHz annually, whichever is higher. It also recommended an additional fee of ₹500 for each urban subscriber. The DoT has raised questions on the feasibility of separating urban and rural users for billing. 

Industry associations such as the Broadband India Forum (BIF) and the Indian Space Association (ISpA) have requested lower charges for rural connectivity.

Scale and Costs

As per the news reports, Starlink has more than 8,400 satellites operating globally. In India, its service could reach up to 2 million users with speeds of up to 200 Mbps. Costs are projected at around ₹3,000 per month.

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Conclusion

Starlink has obtained all major approvals and is awaiting spectrum allocation. The company is preparing to introduce satcom services in India with an emphasis on rural coverage.

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