Ketaan Ram Kataria
New Delhi: Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, has reportedly received the green light from the Indian government to begin operations in the country, according to media reports. This long-awaited approval marks a significant step in expanding high-speed internet access across remote and underserved regions of India.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted Starlink a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) services license, paving the way for SpaceX’s broadband services to enter India’s growing digital market. The licence was reportedly approved after extensive scrutiny, including clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs and other security-related departments.
Starlink will now be able to provide satellite-based internet services, particularly targeting rural and remote areas where traditional internet infrastructure is limited. With this move, India joins a list of countries where Musk’s ambitious satellite internet project is operational, including the US, UK, and several parts of Europe and Latin America.
The development comes shortly after Elon Musk postponed his visit to India in April, during which he was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce major investment plans, including Starlink’s rollout.
Starlink will compete with other global and Indian players in the satellite internet space, such as Bharti-backed OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
