Elon Musk’s Starlink has secured a licence to operate satellite communication (satcom) services in India, according to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) sources. This makes it the third firm to obtain such authorisation in the country. The DoT is expected to allocate trial spectrum to Starlink within 15 to 20 days of its application.

How does Starlink work?

Starlink delivers broadband internet via a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, ranging from 200 to 2,000 kilometres above Earth. This proximity allows for lower latency, reduced signal loss, and higher speeds than traditional satellite networks, which rely on high Earth orbit satellites stationed over 35,000 km away. It also enables coverage in remote areas where laying fibre-optic cables or building mobile towers is unfeasible.

How is it different from existing networks?

Unlike terrestrial telecom networks—dependent on cables, DSL lines, or cellular towers—Starlink bypasses ground infrastructure entirely. Its LEO satellites support real-time services such as video conferencing, gaming, and high-definition streaming even in isolated regions. However, each satellite covers a smaller footprint, meaning a larger constellation and significant ground infrastructure are needed.

Why is this significant for India?

Starlink’s LEO-based model offers a promising solution to India’s urban–rural digital divide. Rural communities, hilly terrains, and offshore areas stand to benefit from internet access previously out of reach. This may boost digital inclusion, enabling access to education, telemedicine, banking, and e-commerce in under-connected zones.

What are the limitations?

Despite the potential, the service carries notable drawbacks: high installation and maintenance costs, potential weather-related disruptions, and latency issues in urban zones compared to existing fibre-optic broadband. Furthermore, limited bandwidth per user and premium pricing may slow widespread adoption.

How are Indian telecom giants reacting?

In a surprise development in March, Indian telecom providers Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel announced a retail partnership with Musk’s firm to stock Starlink equipment in their stores. However, both companies will continue to compete with Starlink on broadband service delivery.

The move came against the backdrop of a regulatory standoff between Musk and Jio owner Mukesh Ambani. The two billionaires clashed over the method of allocating spectrum for satellite services. While Ambani lobbied for auction-based allocation—favouring incumbents—the Indian government ultimately backed Musk, supporting administrative assignment instead.

Further fuelling industry tension, India’s telecom regulator in May proposed that satellite service providers pay just 4% of their annual revenue to the government. Domestic players argue this is “unjustifiably low” and creates an uneven playing field, especially given their higher regulatory and infrastructural burdens.

Who else is entering the satellite internet race?

Amazon’s Project Kuiper, spearheaded by Jeff Bezos, has applied for DoT approval and aims to launch services later this year. The company plans to deploy over 3,200 LEO satellites and build 10 ground gateways in India—far more than Starlink’s three. Kuiper launched 27 satellites in April and plans further rollouts in coming months.

Other players include Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by Bharti, which operates 648 LEO satellites, and Jio’s SES joint venture, which uses medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites. Apple’s satellite partner Globalstar has also applied for operational approval.

How will this affect India’s satellite internet capacity?

Current non-geostationary satellite systems in India provide roughly 70 Gbps of bandwidth. With Starlink and Kuiper entering the fray, this is set to rise to multiple terabits per second. Their combined satellite capacity and infrastructure will dwarf that of existing providers, dramatically reshaping India’s connectivity landscape.