Starlink Gets Green Signal from DoT to Provide Satellite Internet Services in India

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has official approved and issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Elon Musk-backed Starlink to offer satellite-based internet services in India. The approval from the DoT came after the company accepted India’s security-related terms and conditions.

Starlink is a satellite internet project by SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company, and delivers high-speed, low-latency broadband through a vast network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. These satellites, currently around 7,000 strong, orbit the Earth at 550 km and are expected to grow to over 40,000 in the future. This LEO system allows for faster and more stable connections, even in remote or disaster-prone areas where traditional internet services fail.

Apart from this, the government has also granted licenses to other satellite internet services providers like Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications. All players will begin operations after the allocation of satcom spectrum, which the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is currently finalizing.

Recently, the government introduced strict guidelines for satellite service providers. These include requirements for domestic data handling, legal interception, and a 20% indigenisation of ground infrastructure within a few years. Providers must also get security clearance for each gateway or hub and demonstrate their monitoring and interception capabilities.

Speaking at an industry event, Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said the approval process for Starlink had been complex due to national security concerns. He reassured that Starlink’s impact would be minimal compared to existing telecom networks and would mostly serve remote and underserved areas. He added that satellite internet equipment and user costs remain significantly higher than traditional mobile networks.

Starlink has already partnered with Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which control more than 70% of the telecom market. Elon Musk is expected to visit India later this year, which could mark the beginning of Starlink’s commercial journey in the country.

Source: Financial Express