Starlink Gets Government Nod to Launch Satellite Internet in India

After years of waiting, Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink secures GMPCS licence to operate in India, setting the stage for broadband in remote areas.

Arpit Thakur 2 weeks agoLast Updated: June 9, 2025

13,637 4 minutes read

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Reviewed & Published by HH News Desk

Delhi, June 6: After nearly two and a half years of regulatory limbo, Starlink, the satellite internet arm of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has finally received the go-ahead from India’s telecom department to roll out services in the country. The long-pending GMPCS licence—short for Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite—was granted earlier this week by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), according to multiple official sources.

This development officially clears the path for Starlink to operate in India’s growing satellite broadband sector, where it joins OneWeb (now part of Eutelsat) and Reliance Jio’s joint venture with SES. For a country still grappling with patchy connectivity in remote corners, the timing is significant.

Not Just Another Telco

Starlink doesn’t function like your average telecom operator. Instead of relying on underground fibre or mobile towers, its model is based on a constellation of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites that beam high-speed internet directly to user terminals on the ground. For places where building physical infrastructure is too costly or too slow, this kind of connectivity can be a lifeline.

That’s precisely why this move matters. Starlink’s technology is particularly well-suited to India’s remote hills, tribal belts, and island territories—areas where even basic 4G coverage remains unreliable or unavailable. In a sense, the company isn’t just entering the Indian market; it’s stepping into a vacuum that’s long been underserved.

A Two-Year Road to Approval

Starlink had initially kicked off plans for India back in 2021 and even started collecting pre-orders from potential users. But in late 2021, the government stepped in, warning the company to halt sign-ups until it received official clearance. What followed was a two-year-long process involving regulatory filings, compliance documentation, and behind-the-scenes negotiations.

One major hurdle was around national security and lawful interception. As per Indian law, any satellite internet operator must set up a local ground infrastructure that enables the government to monitor data if needed. This includes a command-and-control centre on Indian soil and agreements to comply with lawful surveillance norms.

Only after these requirements were met did the Department of Telecommunications issue the GMPCS licence this week, according to officials cited in The Economic Times and TelecomTalk.

What Happens Now?

Starlink still has a few technical steps to complete before launching commercially. These include setting up ground stations, deploying a network operations centre, and seeking trial spectrum from India’s spectrum coordination body. That trial approval is expected in the coming weeks.

Assuming there are no further delays, commercial services could go live within nine months, based on the rollout estimates shared by industry insiders.

While pricing hasn’t been publicly confirmed yet, there’s buzz that monthly plans could start under ₹850. If that holds true, it could put serious pressure on both terrestrial broadband players and other satellite operators, especially in regions where cost remains a key barrier.

A More Crowded Sky

The timing of Starlink’s approval also adds new heat to an already competitive satellite race in India. OneWeb, which is backed by Bharti Group, has been active in India for a while and already has its constellation in orbit. Similarly, JioSpaceFiber—Reliance Jio’s partnership with European satellite major SES—is aiming to expand in rural markets.

On the horizon is Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which is still awaiting approval. But with Starlink now officially in, India’s satellite internet race has moved into a new phase.

Interestingly, Starlink’s network is vastly different from others. Because it uses LEO satellites (instead of geostationary ones), latency is far lower. That’s a technical advantage, especially for services that depend on real-time speed—like video conferencing, online education, and remote diagnostics.

Spectrum Controversy Still Unresolved

One issue, however, still hangs in the air: spectrum allocation. While Starlink now has a licence, it still needs access to radio spectrum to operate. This has become a hot-button topic in the telecom sector.

Major Indian telcos like Airtel and Jio have called for auction-based spectrum allocation to maintain a level playing field. Satellite players, including Starlink, argue that administrative allocation (without bidding) is more suitable for their use cases.

So far, the government appears to be siding with the satellite firms. In submissions to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the DoT supported administrative allocation, citing international practices. But the final decision is still pending, and it will play a major role in shaping how satellite internet evolves in India.

What It Means for Indians on the Ground

Beyond the telecom and policy drama, the practical impact of Starlink’s arrival could be massive. For students in rural areas, farmers in remote districts, and healthcare workers in underserved communities, satellite broadband can unlock services they’ve never had access to before.

Take the example of a school in Spiti or a health centre in Bastar. With Starlink, both could potentially run full-scale digital operations—streaming classes, telemedicine consultations, real-time government reporting—without waiting for a cable trench to be dug or a tower to be erected.

And it’s not just remote India that could benefit. Urban areas plagued by network congestion, or disaster-hit zones where infrastructure collapses, could also use satellite broadband as a resilient backup.

What can we expect?

For now, Starlink’s entry adds a much-needed layer of momentum to India’s broader Digital India mission. If the infrastructure builds out on time, and pricing stays competitive, the service could quickly become more than just a niche offering.

As per officials cited in Business Standard and The Economic Times, trial runs and ground station deployments are expected to start soon, with full services likely by early 2026.

Whether it reshapes India’s internet landscape is something we’ll see over time. But as of June 2025, Starlink’s green light isn’t just a regulatory headline—it’s the start of something much bigger.

Sources: Department of Telecommunications (DoT), The Economic Times, TelecomTalk, Business Standard, TRAI filings.

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Arpit Thakur

Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald

Arpit Thakur is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, dedicated to covering the dynamic world of business and finance. A student at Amity University, Noida, Arpit leverages his academic insights to provide daily, well-researched analyses of market trends, corporate developments, and economic policies. He is committed to delivering clear and impactful financial news to our readers.