Elon Musk’s Starlink has successfully obtained all necessary regulatory approvals to launch satellite internet services in India, marking a major milestone for the global satellite broadband industry.
Regulatory Breakthrough
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) granted final approval to Starlink on July 8, 2025, clearing the last regulatory hurdle for the company’s entry into India’s telecom market. This approval is valid for five years until July 7, 2030, or until the end of the operational life of Starlink’s Gen1 constellation, whichever comes earlier.
Starlink becomes the third satellite communications provider to receive full regulatory clearance in India, following Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio. The approval comes after the company previously secured its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in June 2025.
Technical Infrastructure and Capabilities
The approved Starlink Gen1 constellation comprises 4,408 satellites operating at altitudes between 540-570 kilometers, capable of delivering approximately 600 Gbps throughput over Indian territory. The system utilizes Low Earth Orbit (LEO) technology, which provides significantly lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites.
IN-SPACe has allocated specific frequency bands for Starlink’s operations:
Gateway beams: 27.5–29.1 GHz and 29.5–30 GHz for uplink, 17.8–18.6 GHz and 18.8–19.3 GHz for downlink
User beams: 14.0–14.5 GHz for uplink and 10.7–12.7 GHz for downlink
Market Entry Strategy and Pricing
Starlink plans to offer competitive pricing for the Indian market, with monthly subscription plans expected to range between ₹3,000 to ₹4,200. The satellite dish hardware is anticipated to cost approximately ₹33,000, with the company offering a one-month free trial period.
Initial promotional pricing may start below ₹840 per month ($10) for unlimited data plans, aimed at rapidly expanding the user base and achieving economies of scale. This competitive pricing strategy is designed to offset the higher spectrum costs through volume adoption.
Strategic Partnerships and Distribution
Starlink has forged strategic partnerships with India’s two largest telecom operators – Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel – for distribution and customer service. These partnerships will leverage the extensive retail networks of both operators to market and distribute Starlink equipment across the country.
This collaboration represents a significant shift in market dynamics, as both Jio and Airtel previously opposed Starlink’s entry but have now become strategic allies. The partnerships are expected to provide Starlink access to nearly 70% of India’s mobile user base.
Regulatory Framework and Spectrum Allocation
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has established a comprehensive pricing framework for satellite services:
4% levy on adjusted gross revenue for satellite operators
₹500 annual charge per urban subscriber for non-geostationary services
₹3,500 minimum annual fee per MHz of spectrum
8% license fee for commercial operations
The government chose administrative spectrum allocation over auctions, aligning with international standards and favoring Starlink’s preferred approach.
Market Impact and Future Outlook
Starlink’s entry is expected to revolutionize connectivity in India’s underserved regions, where traditional broadband infrastructure is limited or economically unfeasible. The service targets rural areas, remote communities, and regions lacking adequate telecom infrastructure.
The company aims to serve 30,000 to 50,000 users initially, with plans to scale up to 3 terabits per second capacity by 2027, potentially serving millions of users nationwide. Industry experts project that India’s satellite communication sector will expand over tenfold, reaching $25 billion by 2028.
Remaining Steps for Commercial Launch
Despite regulatory approval, Starlink must complete several key steps before commercial launch:
Secure spectrum allocation from the government
Establish ground infrastructure including three gateway stations
Set up a Network Operations Centre (NOC) and command control center
Complete security compliance demonstrations through trials
Obtain final clearances from relevant government departments
The commercial launch is expected by late 2025 or early 2026, pending completion of these infrastructure and compliance requirements.
Competitive Landscape
Starlink’s entry introduces significant competition to India’s broadband market, currently dominated by Jio and Airtel’s fiber and wireless services. While traditional broadband plans offer 100 Mbps speeds at around ₹600 monthly, Starlink’s satellite technology provides unique advantages for remote connectivity and disaster recovery scenarios.
The approval represents a paradigm shift in India’s telecom sector, potentially accelerating digital inclusion for over 670 million Indians who still lack reliable internet access. This development positions India as a key market for global satellite internet expansion and establishes a foundation for next-generation connectivity solutions.