The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granted temporary spectrum approval, allowing Starlink to begin trial runs
Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, is gearing up for a major infrastructure push in India. Starlink has received trial spectrum clearance from the DoT to conduct tests at its Navi Mumbai terminal. These tests aim to meet security compliance and regulatory standards before commercial rollout.
This move positions Starlink to compete with players like Jio-SES and Eutelsat OneWeb, who are also racing to build satellite broadband infrastructure in India.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia publicly confirmed that Starlink has received its operating license to launch satellite internet services in India. He shared details of his meeting with Gwynne Shotwell, President & COO of SpaceX, calling it a “great start to the journey”.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granted temporary spectrum approval, allowing Starlink to begin trial runs and set up ground stations across India.
20 Earth Stations PlannedStarlink plans to set up 20 earth stations across India, including Noida, Chennai, and Navi Mumbai.
Three sites are already under construction.
Deployment will require at least 50,000 user terminals imported from Texas, LA, and Seattle.
Regulatory LandscapeStarlink holds a GMPCS licence and has IN-SPACe authorization to operate satellites in India.
DoT and TRAI are still finalizing spectrum pricing and long-term licensing terms.
Comparison Table: Satellite Internet Players in India
Company
Key Moves
Status
Starlink
20 earth stations, Navi Mumbai trials
Testing phase
Jio-SES
Joint venture with SES for satellite broadband
Infrastructure buildout underway
Eutelsat OneWeb
Merger completed, targeting enterprise and rural markets
Operational in select regions
Interestingly, Jio has signed a strategic agreement with SpaceX to integrate Starlink into its broadband ecosystem. The partnership aims to extend Jio’s reach into underserved regions and offer Starlink hardware via Jio retail outlets.
Airtel has also inked an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet to its customers in India. The collaboration explores retail distribution, enterprise solutions, and rural connectivity, pending SpaceX’s full commercial authorization.
Starlink has identified 17 ground station sites across India and is working with data center operators like Equinix, Sify, and CtrlS.
Expected pricing includes — ₹30,000–₹35,000 one-time equipment cost. And, ₹3,000–₹4,200 monthly subscription fee.
Internet speeds will range from 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps.