India Open to Satellite Broadband, Starlink Must Meet Licensing Rules

Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, reaffirmed India’s open-market approach to satellite broadband, stating that Starlink must fulfill all licensing requirements before operating in the country. Speaking to Moneycontrol, Scindia emphasized that the government remains neutral toward companies and is committed to fostering competition in the telecom sector.

“The market is open to anyone who meets the criteria—completing the application, securing the license, and obtaining spectrum allocation,” Scindia stated. Regarding Starlink’s pending application since 2021, he clarified that approvals depend on the company meeting all required conditions.

Highlighting the importance of satellite communications, Scindia noted its vital role in disaster management and connecting underserved regions. He pointed out that two companies, OneWeb and Jio-SES, have already secured licenses, reinforcing India’s commitment to a competitive satcom ecosystem. Meanwhile, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to announce spectrum pricing soon, after which allocations will proceed accordingly.

Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms have recently partnered with SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet in India, aiming to expand connectivity in remote areas. With these developments, industry sources suggest that regulatory approvals for Starlink may be expedited. SpaceX has already submitted key details for its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license and agreed to infrastructure requirements, signaling progress in its application process.

Source: Moneycontrol