Starlink Capped at 20 Lakh Users in India
Photo Credit: @PemmasaniOnX
Union Minister of State for Telecom, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, has clarified that Elon Musk-led Starlink will be allowed a maximum of 20 lakh connections across India, limiting its impact on state-run BSNL and other telecom providers. Speaking after a BSNL review meeting, the minister said Starlink’s services, offering speeds up to 200 Mbps, are primarily meant for rural and remote areas, where BSNL already has a strong presence.
The limit on Starlink is based on its current capacity, and the high upfront and monthly costs (estimated around ₹3,000) make it less of a threat to traditional telecom players. The minister also shared that BSNL’s 4G rollout is now complete and there are no immediate plans to hike tariffs, with the current focus being on expanding the market.
BSNL has reported a 20–30% increase in revenue in the first quarter of the fiscal year, supported by improvements in network quality and power infrastructure. Over 30,000 power stations have been replaced at a cost of ₹600–700 crore, helping reduce technical issues and improve uptime.
Each telecom circle has been assigned specific targets to increase the subscriber base. The minister also emphasized BSNL’s push toward using indigenous technologies, with plans to phase out older 2G and 3G equipment sourced from Chinese vendors like ZTE.
Source: The Economic Times
