Starlink turns into the third satellite tv for pc communications operator with full regulatory clearance to function within the Indian market
In sum – what to know:
Starlink enters India market – Starlink has obtained last regulatory approval from IN-SPACe to function satellite tv for pc broadband providers in India, turning into the third satcom operator to take action after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES.
Business launch nonetheless pending – Regardless of clearance, Starlink should nonetheless safe trial spectrum and meet safety necessities set by the Division of Telecommunications earlier than launching full-scale operations.
TRAI proposes spectrum charges – TRAI’s suggestions embody a 4% AGR-based price and urban-rural worth differentiation, which the DoT is anticipated to finalize as a part of India’s satellite tv for pc spectrum framework.
Starlink, the satellite tv for pc web service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has obtained last approval from the Indian Nationwide Area Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), to start providing broadband providers within the nation, in keeping with native press experiences.
With this approval, Starlink turns into the third satellite tv for pc communications operator, after Eutelsat OneWeb and the Reliance Jio–SES three way partnership, to acquire all required regulatory clearances to function within the Indian market.
Final month, Starlink had secured a world cell private communication by satellite tv for pc (GMPCS) license, a key step towards launching providers. The report famous that the corporate’s Gen 1 low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation contains 4,408 satellites with a complete capability of 600 Gbps throughout India.
Regardless of the approval, Starlink can not instantly start full business operations because it nonetheless wants to amass trial spectrum and meet nationwide safety compliance situations set by the Division of Telecommunications (DoT). These steps are necessary earlier than any business service can start.
Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES had obtained trial spectrum in 2024 and had been granted six-month extensions as they await last safety clearances. Starlink can also be anticipated to obtain trial spectrum shortly, in keeping with the report.
The DoT is engaged on spectrum pricing and allocation tips based mostly on suggestions from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). TRAI has steered a mannequin based mostly on administrative allocation with a 4% price on adjusted gross income (AGR) for 5 years.
Eutelsat OneWeb obtained its GMPCS license in August 2021, whereas Jio Satellite tv for pc secured its authorization in March 2022. Nonetheless, each firms waited almost two years earlier than receiving the ultimate allow from India’s house regulator, which lastly authorised their operations in November 2023 and June 2024, respectively.
India has carried out stringent operational necessities for satellite tv for pc communications, together with authorized interception capabilities. Service suppliers are additionally barred from linking buyer knowledge or providers to infrastructure positioned exterior the nation and are prohibited from processing person knowledge past nationwide borders.
As well as, the principles stipulate that firms should indigenize at the very least 20% of their floor infrastructure inside just a few years of launching operations. Operators are additionally required to obtain separate safety clearances for every satellite tv for pc gateway and hub web site in India, and should adjust to particular monitoring and lawful interception infrastructure necessities, the experiences added.
Earlier this yr, Indian carriers Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio Infocomm had introduced separate agreements with SpaceX to supply Starlink’s broadband providers to prospects in India as soon as the latter secured all permits.
Bharti Airtel’s chairman Sunil Mittal has beforehand referred to as on governments and regulators to incentivize telecom operators to increase rural connectivity, help business consolidation and decrease spectrum prices.
Talking at Cellular World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, he emphasised the pressing want for cooperation between terrestrial and satellite tv for pc operators to shut the connectivity hole for the final 400 million folks worldwide.
Mittal burdened that consolidation within the telecom sector is important to allow operators to take a position closely in infrastructure and companion with satellite tv for pc suppliers. He argued that the business ought to concentrate on sharing sources quite than duplicating investments.
