Elon's Starlink gets nod from India's space regulator but data privacy, space debris concerns abound
The Gen1 breed (initial satellite dish) of Starlink has been authorised to offer high-speed internet across the country, subject to legal clearance from the government.
New Delhi: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has nodded yes to Elon Musk's SpaceX subsidiary Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited to operate their satellites in India.
Starlink's Gen1 network includes around 4,000 satellites that orbit the Earth at altitudes between 540 and 570 kilometres. The technology, when launched in India, will deliver a combined data capacity of 600 gigabytes per second. The plan is to amp up internet access, especially in rural areas.
After OneWeb and Reliance Jio, Starlink is the third company to get authorisation by IN-SPACe.
Until now, it was illegal to access Starlink satellites in India. But the IN-SPACe approval allows Starlink satellites to communicate with ground stations in India to improve communication across the country.
Venture capitalists have been expecting a boom in the space sector in India since February 2024, when the government encouraged 100 percent foreign direct investment in the sector.
'That just opened up the whole ecosystem for startups, (and) IN-SPACe anchored all the startups in space,' Manu Iyer, venture capitalist and co-founder of Bluehill Capital, a firm focussed on deep tech investment, told ThePrint.
Most satellite internet uses single satellites far from the Earth, causing slow connections and high delays, according to Starlink's website. Starlink uses thousands of satellites much closer to the Earth, covering the whole planet. Because they are closer, the delay is lesser, it says.
'To give you global coverage, it's like you need only 3,000 satellites in space, meaning in lower orbit. Starlink has around 8,000 satellites. So, they have much more than what is required,' Iyer added, appreciating the technology of Starlink.
The green flag to Starlink to operate its satellite constellation in India has, however, sparked concerns as well.
'I am not a fan of Starlink getting this kind of adoption. We don't know what he (Musk) does … and our data is at risk as the channels of communication could be monitored,' said Raghav Asawa, founder, Applied Science Innovations (ASCI), a year-old start-up that is focused on utilising satellite technology to monitor climate-related mishaps.
The telecommunications market across India is the second largest in the world, with a subscriber base close to one billion as of 2023, according to Statista.
'India is already very well connected. There is good communication even in the mountain region. So, I don't think it (Starlink's communication) is needed,' Asawa added.
The massive number of satellites is also a concern for researchers as it adds to space debris and may affect astronomical observations.
The low-earth orbit where the satellites are mostly put up is already prone to space debris due to congested satellite traffic. This calls for international monitoring of space traffic, according to a report in Polytechnique Insights.
Amid the worries, the focus for start-up founders is on attracting more funds than on foreign companies deploying their solutions. Asawa pointed out that India has enough talent pool but lacks funds to build and compete against companies like SpaceX.
VCs like Iyer, too, realise the challenge in funding deep space tech as the returns take longer. 'Today, the government is a lot more active in supporting satellites, supporting companies building in space. All of this will go a long way in helping to accelerate development,' Iyer added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: Don't auction satellite spectrum if you want good rural broadband, says chief of telco body IAFI
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
25 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Rogue bots? AI firms must pay up
When Elon Musk's xAI was forced to apologise this week after its Grok chatbot spewed antisemitic content and white nationalist talking points, the response felt depressingly familiar: suspend the service, issue an apology and promise to do better. Rinse and isn't the first time we've seen this playbook. Microsoft's Tay chatbot disaster in 2016 followed a similar pattern. The fact that we're here again, nearly a decade later, suggests the AI industry has learnt remarkably little from its mistakes. But the world is no longer willing to accept 'sorry' as sufficient. This is because AI has become a force multiplier for content generation and dissemination, and the time-to-impact has shrunk. Thus, liability and punitive actions are being discussed. The Grok incident revealed a troubling aspect of how AI companies approach accountability. According to xAI, the problematic behaviour emerged after they tweaked their system to allow more 'politically incorrect' responses - a decision that seems reckless. When the inevitable happened, they blamed deprecated code that should have been removed. If you're building systems capable of reaching millions of users, shouldn't you know what code is running in production?The real problem isn't technical - it's philosophical. Too many AI companies treat bias and harmful content as unfortunate side effects to be addressed after deployment, rather than fundamental risks to be prevented beforehand. This reactive approach worked when the stakes were lower, but AI systems now operate at unprecedented scale and influence. When a chatbot generates hate speech, it's not embarrassing - it's dangerous, legitimising and amplifying extremist ideologies to vast legal landscape is shifting rapidly, and AI companies ignoring these changes do so at their peril. The EU's AI Act, which came into force in February, represents a shift from reactive regulation to proactive governance. Companies can no longer apologise their way out of AI failures - they must demonstrate they've implemented robust safeguards before AB 316, introduced last January, takes an even more direct approach by prohibiting the 'the AI did it' defence in civil cases. This legislation recognises what should be obvious: companies that develop and deploy AI systems bear responsibility for their outputs, regardless of whether those outputs were 'intended'.India's approach may prove more punitive than the EU's regulatory framework and more immediate than the US litigation-based system, focusing on swift enforcement of existing criminal laws rather than waiting for new AI-specific legislation. India doesn't yet have AI-specific legislation, but if Grok's antisemitic incident had occurred with Indian users, then steps like immediate blocking of the AI service, a criminal case against xAI under IPC 153A, and a demand for content removal from the X platform would have been Grok incident may mark a turning point. Regulators worldwide are demanding proactive measures rather than reactive damage control, and courts are increasingly willing to hold companies directly liable for their systems' shift is long overdue. AI systems aren't just software - they're powerful tools that shape public discourse, influence decision-making and can cause real-world harm. The companies that build these systems must be held to higher standards than traditional software developers, with corresponding legal and ethical question facing the AI industry isn't whether to embrace this new reality - it's whether to do so voluntarily or have it imposed by regulators and courts. Companies that continue to rely on the old playbook of post-incident apologies will find themselves increasingly isolated in a world demanding AI industry's true maturity will show not in flashy demos or sky-high valuations, but in its commitment to safety over speed, rigour over shortcuts, and real accountability over empty apologies. In this game, 'sorry' won't cut it - only responsibility writer is a commentator ondigital policy issues (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Rumblings at the top of Ola Electric The hybrid vs. EV rivalry: Why Maruti and Mahindra pull in different directions. What's best? How Safexpress bootstrapped its way to build India's largest PTL Express business Zee promoters have a new challenge to navigate. And it's not about funding or Sebi probe. Newton vs. industry: Inside new norms that want your car to be more fuel-efficient Stock Radar: UltraTech Cements hit a fresh record high in July; what should investors do – book profits or buy the dip? F&O Radar | Deploy Bear Put Spread in Nifty to gain from index correction Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Elon Musk's X hit by complaints to EU over user data and targeted advertising
Elon Musk's X social media platform has been hit by complaints by nine civil society organisations to EU and French regulators over what they say is its use of users' data for targeted advertising that may breach EU tech organisations - AI Forensics, the Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe, Entropy, European Digital Rights, Gesellschaft fur Freiheitsrechte e.V. (GFF), Global Witness, Panoptykon Foundation, Stichting Bits of Freedom and VoxPublic said they took their complaint to the European Commission and the French media regulator Arcom on urged both regulators to take action under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which prohibits advertising based on sensitive user data such as religion, race and sexuality.X, the Commission and Arcom did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment."We express our deep concern regarding the use by X of users' sensitive personal data for targeted advertisements," the organisations said in a said their concerns were triggered after they looked into X's Ad Repository which is a publicly available database set up by companies as part of a DSA requirement."We found that major brands as well as public and financial institutions engaged in targeted online advertising based on what appear to be special categories of personal data, protected by Article 9 of the GDPR, such as political opinions, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and health conditions," they group called on the regulators to investigate X. GDPR refers to the EU data privacy law.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Tesla drives into India via import route with Model Y price starting at Rs 59.89 lakh
The mid-sized electric SUV Model Y, which was once the world's best-selling car, will be offered in India in two variants — rear-wheel drive with base price at Rs 59.89 lakh and long-range rear wheel drive at a base price of Rs 67.89 lakh. Tesla, led by American tech billionaire Elon Musk who had in the past cited India's high import tariffs for the company not entering the country earlier, will be importing the Model Y as a completely built unit (CBU), from its Shanghai manufacturing facility in China. Mumbai, Jul 15 (PTI) Global EV giant Tesla on Tuesday made its much-awaited entry into India, launching its Model Y with price starting at Rs 59.89 lakh while opening its first experience centre here. The deliveries are slated to start in the third and fourth quarter of 2025, respectively, for the two variants. Initially, registration and delivery will start in Delhi, Mumbai, and Gurugram, the company said, adding that through its Tesla Design Studio, customers will be able to customise their Model Y exterior, interior, and even its features. The rear-wheel drive variant has a range of 500 km while that of the long-range rear wheel drive is 622 km on a single charge. The Model Y will compete with a range of electric luxury cars from German automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. Electric vehicles from Indian manufacturers Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra are priced below Rs 30 lakh. In the US, the Model Y long-range rear-wheel drive variant is available at USD 37,490 on cash payment. Tesla's first experience centre in India at the Maker Maxity Commercial Complex, in Bandra Kurla Complex here was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Tesla chief for APAC region Isabel Fan at the launch event said Tesla has redefined transportation and the company's goal is to set a great ecosystem to share technology. Mumbai Experience Centre is meant for engaging customers, she said, adding that plans are to set up four charging stations each in Mumbai and Delhi. Tesla said it is 'committed and excited' to help drive a zero-emission and greener future in India. 'As part of Tesla's commitments in India, the company will continue to develop the experience center, service and support, and charging infrastructure in the country, aimed at delivering a seamless Tesla ownership experience,' the company said. Tesla's drive into India through the import route comes amid the government wooing EV makers to set up manufacturing plant in the country. Last month the government had notified guidelines under the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India, allowing import of up to 8,000 electric four-wheeler units annually at a lower import duty of 15 per cent, against 70-100 per cent currently, provided they commit an investment of Rs 4,150 crore for setting up local manufacturing facilities. The scheme was first announced on March 15 last year. US President Donald Trump has said if Tesla were to build a factory in India to circumvent that country's tariffs, it would be 'unfair' to the US. Tesla CEO billionaire Elon Musk had said in April last year that his visit to India had been delayed due to the company's heavy obligations. He had said in 2022 that Tesla, which was earlier seeking reduction in import duties to sell its vehicles in India, would not manufacture its products unless it is allowed to first sell and service its cars in the country. The electric car maker was seeking an initial tariff concession that would allow it to offset 70 per cent of customs duty for cars priced less than USD 40,000, and 100 per cent for cars of higher value. However, earlier this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India will not tailor its policies to suit Tesla, and its laws and tariff rules will be formulated to attract all-electric vehicle manufacturers from across the globe to set up a base in the world's fastest-growing economy. Speaking at the launch event, Fadnavis said the Maharashtra government wants to see Tesla establish its research and development and manufacturing facilities in India, and invited the global EV major to consider the state as a partner in its journey. 'We wish to see research and development and manufacturing being done in India. I am sure Tesla will think about it at an appropriate stage,' Fadnavis said. 'Consider Maharashtra as a partner in your journey,' he said. Last month, Tesla India took on lease 24,565 sq ft warehousing space in Lodha Logistics Park in Mumbai for five years. In June, Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the electric carmaker is not interested in manufacturing cars in India but keen on establishing showrooms in the country. Tesla has made its India debut at a time when it is facing reduced sales in Europe and China. Last week, Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt Ltd — the Indian subsidiary of the company — had received a trade certificate from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Andheri. Such a certificate allows the company to showcase its vehicles, conduct test drives, and begin sales. Trade certificates are a necessary requirement under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules for vehicle dealers or manufacturers looking to operate unregistered vehicles for trials or promotional activities. PTI ND PSJ IAS RKL TRB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
