Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service cleared a regulatory hurdle in India on Friday, securing a license from the Department of Telecommunications that brings the company closer to launching commercial operations in the world's most populous country.
The approval makes Starlink the third company authorized to provide satellite-based internet services in India, following Eutelsat's OneWeb and Reliance Jio. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed the development, saying spectrum allocation would follow and that "satellite telecom services will be fully operational in the country at a rapid pace".
The license comes as India grapples with connectivity gaps that leave about 40% of its 1.4 billion people without internet access1. Satellite broadband is viewed as essential for reaching remote and mountainous rural areas where traditional infrastructure remains sparse1.
"There are several remote areas where internet services have not reached yet," telecom expert Sandeep Budki told NDTV. "What can be used there? Forget about wires and towers, we will now use satellite"2.
India's satellite internet market is projected to grow from $331.57 million in 2024 to $1.738 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group3. The number of satellite internet users is expected to reach around 2 million by 2025, up sixfold from current levels4.
Starlink's path to commercial launch faces several challenges. The company must secure separate approval from IN-SPACe, India's space regulator, and obtain spectrum allocation from the government—processes that could take months12.
The company has agreed to new security conditions, including establishing interception capabilities and a command center within India2. It also faces pricing pressures in a market where mobile data ranks among the world's cheapest. Reliance Jio, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, once offered free data with mobile plans1.
A dispute over spectrum allocation methods has emerged between Starlink and Jio. While Jio supports auctioning spectrum like traditional telecom services, Starlink argues for direct assignment—a position the Indian government appears to favor34.
Amazon's Project Kuiper remains in the licensing queue, with approval still pending53. Meanwhile, analysts suggest Starlink's service will complement rather than threaten established players like Jio and Bharti Airtel, given India's price-sensitive market dynamics6.
"I am sure the customer base in India will grow substantially," Scindia said, as the country positions satellite connectivity as a cornerstone of its digital transformation efforts5.
