A Starlink dish on a fixed site for enterprise. Photo: Starlink
DE-CIX has announced it will integrate SpaceX’s Starlink into its interconnection ecosystem in India, and it is the first internet exchange operator in India to do so. This comes as Starlink has received a commercial license from India’s Department of Telecommunications and is moving toward starting service in India.
DE-CIX facilitates connectivity between major Indian and international networks, and interconnects internet service providers (ISPs), content delivery networks, and over-the-top (OTT) players.
The company operates a Space-IX program that provides satellite operators like Starlink with interconnection solutions that bring satellite networks into terrestrial infrastructure to enable access to content, clouds, and application providers. The company said this integration will allow Starlink to operate as an internet service provider (ISP) in India.
The company said that integrating Starlink will enable bringing high-speed internet access to India’s remote areas in India without fiber infrastructure like mountain, rural, and island areas. DE-CIX has a background in combining satellite, fiber, mobile, and peering.
“With the world’s largest neutral interconnection ecosystem and a presence across major Indian metros, DE-CIX ensures that satellite operators can interconnect locally while delivering globally,” Chief Business Officer of DE-CIX India Sudhir Kunder commented in a blog post. “This milestone moment will serve as a blueprint for what happens when next-gen satellite access meets a trusted, high-performance ground layer.”
DE-CIX expects Starlink to receive final clearance for service in India by late 2025 or early 2026.