Starlink gets licence to begin India ops, way cleared for spectrum allocation

India Today

3 days ago

India has officially granted Elon Musk's Starlink a licence to provide satellite-based internet services, paving the way for the company's entry into the country's growing digital market, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. The approval comes as India marks the 30th anniversary of its first-ever cellular call, made on July 31, 1995."Starlink has been granted a Unified License to launch satellite internet services in India. Frameworks for spectrum allocation and gateway establishment are ready, ensuring smooth rollout," news agency PTI quoted the Union minister as saying.advertisementThe Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granted Starlink the authorisation earlier in July. The company had first applied for permissions in 2021 but faced delays over spectrum allocation and regulatory approvals. The recent green light follows months of engagement with Indian authorities and marks a significant step toward offering internet access in remote regions of the country.
Starlink, operated by Musk's SpaceX, is expected to compete with other players such as Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio's JV with SES, both of which are awaiting spectrum allocation to begin operations. All three companies aim to deliver high-speed internet using a constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.INDIA'S DIGITAL GROWTH STORYAnnouncing the approval, Minister Scindia also took the opportunity to reflect on India's sweeping digital progress under the Narendra Modi government. Over the past decade, India has seen a dramatic expansion in telecom and internet infrastructure.The number of telephone connections in India now exceeds 1.2 billion, while internet subscriptions have surged nearly 286 per cent to 970 million. Broadband usage, too, has grown more than 1,450 per cent — from 60 million users in 2014 to 944 million today. Also, low data costs, now at just Rs 8.9 per GB — a drop of 96.6 per cent — make data services among the most affordable globally.BSNL's TURNAROUND AND 5G EXPANSIONSA major milestone highlighted was the financial turnaround of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the state-run telecom operator. After nearly two decades of losses, BSNL posted net profits of Rs 262 crore and Rs 280 crore in the last two financial years. The operator has deployed over 83,000 4G sites, 74,000 of which are now operational using indigenous technology.The minister also noted the rapid rollout of 5G services across the country. As of now, 99.6 per cent of districts are covered with over 4.74 lakh 5G towers and a user base of 300 million. India also ranks among the top six countries in terms of 6G patent filings. "With the world's highest per capita 5G usage—32 GB per month—India is demonstrating strong technological leadership," Scindia added.STARLINK ERA: A NEW CHAPTERadvertisementNow, Starlink's entry adds a fresh dimension to India's digital future, especially for regions that remain beyond the reach of traditional fiber and cellular networks.The satellite-based approach promises to bridge the urban-rural divide and improve connectivity in remote locations such as mountainous areas, islands, and border regions.Starlink aims to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband to users across India, and is now moving forward with plans to set up local gateways and ground stations, pending final spectrum allocation.With the regulatory landscape now clarified and infrastructure support in place, India's satcom sector is poised for rapid growth, complementing its already massive mobile network.As the country celebrates three decades of mobile phone generation, it now looks ahead to a future where even the most remote corners are digitally connected—via space.- EndsWith PTI inputsMust Watch