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The Print
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
Elon's Starlink gets nod from India's space regulator but data privacy, space debris concerns abound
IN-SPACe, an autonomous agency in the department of space, Wednesday gave licence to Starlink to operate for five years or until the Gen1's operational life, whichever comes first. 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
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Elon Musk's Starlink approved for India: Check expected prices, plans and rollout schedule
Elon Musk-owned Starlink has received the final regulatory clearance from the Indian government to start its internet service in India. Currently available in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide, the satellite-based internet service works in any place with a direct view of the sky, which means it will work even in the remotest part of the country. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, or IN-SPACe for short, granted Starlink the licence to commercially operate in India for the next five years, making it the third company after Eutelsat's OneWeb and Reliance Jio to get the nod to bring satellite internet to the country. The approval permits Starlink to use its Gen1 satellite constellation in the country and is valid till July 7, 2030. The regulatory approval does not mean that Starlink will soon start its commercial services in India. A report by Reuters suggests that Starlink still needs to establish ground infrastructure and secure the spectrum from the government. Moreover, the SpaceX-owned service needs to demonstrate through testing and trial that it meets the security rules set by IN-SPACe. This means we might see Starlink start offering its services in India either by the end of the year or sometime next year. Unlike fibre optic-based broadband providers like Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Hathaway, ACT and others, Starlink uses a constellation of satellites to provide internet connectivity. This eliminates the need to set up ground-based infrastructure while also enabling internet access even in the most remote locations on the planet. Also, compared to other satellite internet service providers, which often struggle with speed and latency, Starlink uses a constellation of thousands of satellites which can communicate with each other to deliver high-speed internet and reduce latency. Compared to satellites used by companies like Viasat, HughesNet and Amazon, which are pretty large, Starlink's internet satellites are small and use lasers to transmit signals amongst one another. If you want to learn more about how Starlink works and how to set it up, click here. SpaceX has yet to officially reveal how much it will charge Starlink users in India, but if we take a look at the company's global pricing, the standard hardware is expected to cost $349, which roughly translates to Rs 30,000. If you want to use Starlink's satellite internet on the go, you might want to take a look at the mini kit, which costs $499 or approximately Rs 43,000. One thing to note is that Starlink's internet speed depends entirely on your geographical location, which means you should expect speeds anywhere between 20 Mbps to 264 Mbps. As for price, several reports have suggested that the promotional monthly subscription plans might start at $10, which amounts to about Rs 900 per month. If you are planning to make Starlink your primary internet service, speculations suggest that the unlimited data plan might be priced somewhere around Rs 3,000 per month. Earlier this year, in May, Starlink started its services in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh, where the service comes with a one-time setup cost of approximately Rs 39,000 and monthly subscription plans starting from Rs 2,990. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also proposed an additional monthly charge of Rs 500 for Starlink users in urban areas, but it remains to be seen if that might be the case. These subscription costs may seem expensive, but if you are someone who is always on the go or lives in an area where internet connectivity is patchy, Starlink might emerge as a viable alternative. A few months ago, Reliance Jio announced it is tying up with Starlink to sell its equipment in India via physical retail stores, with the network operator responsible for Starlink installation and activation. Bharti Airtel has also tied up with the Elon Musk-owned company to bring satellite internet to the most remote parts of India. However, Starlink isn't the only company working on satellite connectivity. Last year, government-owned telecom operator BSNL announced that it is working on a new service called 'Direct to Device', which it claims 'converges satellite and terrestrial mobile networks to deliver seamless, reliable connectivity.' In a trial, BSNL used a commercial Android device with non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity to send a message to a Viasat satellite, which was roughly 36,000km away. For those wondering, the technology uses existing cellular networks and repurposes them to interact with satellite constellations like that of Starlink, which act as gigantic cell towers in the sky. This is helpful for people who live I places where network connectivity is low and can help cover the gap in rural areas. Anurag Chawake is a Senior Sub-Editor at His fascination with technology and computers goes back to the days of Windows 98. Since then, he has been tinkering with various operating systems, mobile phones, and other things. Anurag usually writes on a wide range of topics including Android, gaming, and PC hardware among other things related to consumer tech. His Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn user name is antechx. ... Read More
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IN-SPACe nod: Starlink clears final hurdle for India launch
Elon Musk's satcom venture Starlink Wednesday cleared the final hurdle for launch of services in India, as the company received satellite authorisation approval from space regulator and promoter Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) for five years. ' IN-SPACe authorisation to SSCPL has a validity period of five years from the date of authorisation or end of operational life of Gen1 constellation — whichever is earlier,' the satellite authorisation body said. Earlier, the company had received a licence to offer satellite services in India from department of telecom on June 5, and IN-SPACe clearance now paves the way for it to start work on setting up ground infrastructure to begin services. IN-SPACe nod: Starlink clears final hurdle for India launch | page 9 New Delhi: Elon Musk's satcom venture Starlink on Wednesday cleared the final hurdle for launch of services in India, as the company received satellite authorisation approval from Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). Earlier, the company had received a licence to offer satellite services in India from the department of telecom (DoT) on June 5, and the IN-Space clearance now paves the way for it to start work on setting up ground infrastructure to begin services, possibly over the next few months. IN-SPACe granted authorisation to Starlink Satellite Communications (SSCPL) for enabling provisioning of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites constellation, namely Starlink Gen1. 'IN-SPACe authorisation to SSCPL has a validity period of five years from the date of authorisation or end of operational life of Gen1 constellation — whichever is earlier. The rollout of services is subject to the stipulated regulatory provisions and requisite clearance/approval/licence from the relevant govt department(s),' the satellite authorisation body said. The Starlink Gen1 Constellation is a global constellation with 4,408 satellites orbiting earth in altitude varying between 540-570 kms capable of providing 600 Gbps throughout India. In June, Starlink had received approval for three licences — Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS), Commercial Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), and Internet Service Provider (ISP) after trying for years to get a go-ahead. 'With the two approvals done, the company will now begin work to set up ground infrastructure for enabling services. A lot of equipment will also be imported and approvals will be sought for the same,' sources said. According to reports by a section of analysts, Starlink is expected to launch its services at data prices under Rs 1,000, which would still be higher than the fibre-to-home broadband rates offered by Reliance Jio and Airtel.
India Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Starlink cleared for India: Elon Musk's satellite internet to launch soon, plans, prices, and timeline inside
Elon Musk's satellite internet project, Starlink, has officially been cleared to offer its services in India. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which oversees private sector participation in India's space sector, has given the green signal for Starlink's satellite broadband operations. With this approval, Starlink is now one step closer to bringing satellite-based high-speed internet connectivity to homes and businesses across the approval, granted on July 8, allows Starlink to operate its Gen1 satellite constellation over Indian territory. This permission will remain valid until July 7, 2030. In addition to granting operational approval, IN-SPACe has also allocated specific frequency bands that Starlink can use to beam internet from its satellites to ground users in India. The company has been authorised to use a mix of Ka and Ku band frequencies for both uplink and downlink transmissions, which are essential for maintaining reliable satellite internet this marks a major breakthrough for Starlink's entry into India, the commercial launch won't happen overnight. The company will still need to acquire spectrum from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), establish ground infrastructure such as gateways, and complete required security and compliance procedures. Sources familiar with the matter suggest that if all goes as planned, Starlink may begin offering its services in India by the end of 2025 or early 2026. Starlink, which is part of Musk's space exploration firm SpaceX, aims to provide internet services via a network of low-Earth orbit satellites. This method is particularly beneficial for users in remote and rural regions, where traditional fibre or mobile networks are either unreliable or unavailable. The system works by delivering internet signals directly from satellites to a small dish installed at the user's location, offering decent speeds even in areas that are not covered by existing broadband Starlink is already operational in more than 100 countries and has deployed over 6,000 satellites so far. The company plans to expand this to 42,000 satellites in the coming years. In India, Starlink is expected to offer speeds ranging between 25 Mbps and 220 Mbps, depending on the location and satellite coverage. It will also launch with a data capacity of around 600 to 700 Gbps, which could support thousands of users across the for pricing, the full cost of Starlink hardware in India hasn't been officially revealed yet. However, based on global trends, the Standard Kit—which includes a satellite dish, stand, Wi-Fi router, and cables—is likely to cost around Rs 33,000. Monthly subscription plans with unlimited data usage are expected to be priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,200. These plans are targeted at individual households, especially in areas where regular broadband isn't a viable option. In the US, the same hardware is priced at \$349, and the more compact Starlink Mini costs \$599. Whether the Mini version will be introduced in India is still entry into India could prove to be a game-changer, especially for regions with poor internet infrastructure. It also signals growing support from Indian regulators for private satellite communication services. While a few more approvals and setups are still pending, the groundwork has now been laid, and Starlink is firmly on track to begin operations in India.- Ends
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Musk's Starlink gets nod to launch services in India
India's space regulator INSPACe has granted a licence to Elon Musk-run Starlink to offer space-based internet services in the country. "Indian National Space Authorisation and Promotion Centre (INSPACe) granted authorisation to M/s Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, New Delhi (SSCPL) for enabling provisioning of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites constellation, namely Starlink Gen1. The authorisation will enable SSCPL to provide satellite communication services in India," a statement from the space sector regulator said. The authorisation is valid for a five-year period from the date of authorisation (July 8) or the end of the operational life of the Gen1 constellation -- whichever is earlier.
