New Delhi: Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, officially launched its services in Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed that the Indian government has completed all due diligence needed for Starlink’s rollout in the country.

With this move, Sri Lanka becomes the third South Asian nation—after Bhutan and Bangladesh—to receive access to Starlink's satellite internet services.

The announcement was made by the company via X, formerly known as Twitter, where it posted: “Starlink's high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in Sri Lanka!”

Starlink’s entry into India is now closer than ever. The company secured a crucial licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) last month, almost three years after its initial application.

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said that all due diligence processes have been completed from their end for the entry of SpaceX’s Starlink service in India, and once they receive the necessary regulatory and licensing approvals from the space regulator, they can roll out the service in the country whenever they wish to.

"Now the ball is in Starlink’s court to begin their services in India after receiving those approvals," Scindia said.

The last stage before a full rollout is a formal go-ahead from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which has already issued a draft letter of intent (LOI) to Starlink. Once signed, the company will be formally cleared to launch in India.

IN-SPACe Chairman, Dr Pawan Goenka, has also confirmed in reports that most of the regulatory and licensing requirements for Starlink have been addressed.

SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service is inching closer to operational status in the country. Starlink is likely to start providing services in India within the next two months.

Starlink provides internet through a network of satellites orbiting Earth. The company currently operates the world’s largest constellation of satellites, with more than 6,750 in orbit.

In Asia, Starlink already operates in Mongolia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, Yemen, and Azerbaijan. Globally, it offers services in over 100 countries with options for both residential and roaming internet plans.

The residential plans are usually offered in two categories: Residential Lite for smaller households with lower data needs, and Residential for larger families or heavier usage.

IANS