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India.com
16 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
Elon Musk's Starlink Set To Debut In India: Check Expected Price, Speed, Internet Plans & More
New Delhi: Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, Starlink, is one step closer to launching in India. According to a report by The Economic Times, Starlink is nearing its final regulatory approval, with a letter of intent already shared by IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre). Once both parties sign the document, Starlink will officially be cleared to begin operations in the country. Imagine getting fast internet even in the most remote corners of the world—that's what Starlink is trying to make possible. Backed by Elon Musk's SpaceX, the service uses satellites in space to deliver high-speed internet to over 100 countries. Starlink has already launched more than 6,000 satellites and aims to expand that number to 42,000 by 2027. Designed to work even in the most remote areas, the service offers internet speeds ranging from 50 to 250 Mbps. All users need is a clear view of the sky to get connected. What will be Starlink's speed? Starlink is gearing up to launch its services in India with an initial data capacity of 600 to 700 Gbps. This powerful bandwidth should be enough to support thousands of users at the same time across the country, promising fast and stable internet for everyone. Starlink price in India Getting connected to satellite internet through Starlink in India could cost around Rs 33,000 for the Standard Kit. This all-in-one package is expected to include the satellite dish, a stand, the latest Wi-Fi router, power cables, and an adapter. Aimed at everyday users, the setup is designed to support activities like streaming, online meetings, and gaming. Monthly unlimited data plans are likely to be priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,200.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Starlink set to receive final regulatory approval for India market launch
Starlink awaits final authorisation from space regulator IN-SPACe; ground infra and security clearance still pending for India launch New Delhi Starlink, the satellite communications (satcom) arm of Elon Musk's SpaceX, is on the brink of securing its final regulatory nod to operate in India, according to a report by The Economic Times. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has issued a draft document to Starlink, which is akin to a letter of intent. Once signed by both parties, the formal authorisation will be granted, the news report said. With this, Starlink will achieve regulatory parity with Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite, who already hold similar permissions. Last month, Starlink received the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, becoming the third satcom company authorised to offer commercial services in India. Infrastructure and security compliance still pending Despite regulatory clearances, Starlink cannot yet launch commercial operations. According to Indian norms, it must establish key ground infrastructure — such as earth stations and control centres — within the country. Additionally, the company will need to successfully demonstrate its services for security compliance. Only after security agencies approve the operations will Starlink be allowed to offer services to consumers, the news report said. Similar delays have been faced by rivals. OneWeb, which received its GMPCS licence in 2021, and Jio Satellite, licensed in 2022, are both still awaiting security clearances. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had provided trial spectrum last year to enable such demonstrations, and this spectrum allocation has recently been extended by another six months. Security concerns around starlink terminals Starlink's security clearance process could be further complicated by prior concerns raised by Indian security agencies. Authorities flagged the use of Starlink terminals in sensitive border areas in the Northeast and criticised the company's lack of cooperation in sharing details. In March, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had formally asked the DoT to investigate the matter. Under Indian regulations, satcom operators are required to route all domestic traffic through Indian gateways and establish monitoring and control centres locally. Additionally, companies must create buffer zones near international borders. Pricing strategy and distribution Although India presents a vast market opportunity, Starlink's pricing will reflect regional constraints and global cost structures. Starlink kits will be priced around ₹33,000, while monthly plans are likely to range from ₹3,000 to ₹4,200 — similar to those announced for Bangladesh and Bhutan, where services commenced earlier this year. These kits will be made available through telecom partners Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, both of whom struck distribution agreements with Starlink in April. High-level engagement follows regulatory progress Following the Telecom Department's licence approval, Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, met Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia last week. The meeting focused on exploring partnerships in satellite communications to support India's digital expansion. "Had a productive meeting with Ms. @Gwynne_Shotwell, President & COO of @SpaceX, on India's next frontier in connectivity," Scindia posted. 'We delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India's soaring ambitions.' Shotwell called the Starlink licence a 'great start to the journey".
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Starlink to soon get regulator's final approval for India entry
US satcom major Starlink is set to clear the final regulatory requirement for offering services in India with space regulator IN-SPACe issuing a draft document for signing to the Elon Musk-owned company, people aware of the details told ET. Once Starlink signs the document-which is akin to a letter of intent and appears to be a formality-the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) will also sign and issue the authorisation. "The authorisation to Starlink will be issued soon," said a person privy to the details. After this, Starlink will be on a par with rivals Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite in terms of regulatory approvals. The company was granted a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) permit last month, becoming the third satcom player in the country that can offer commercial satcom services. However, despite securing the regulatory approvals, it will take more time for the company to start offering commercial services. The company now needs to set up earth stations or gateways and control centre in India, which is a prerequisite for players to offer satcom services. After setting up the ground infrastructure, the company has to demonstrate the services for security compliance and once the nod is given by security agencies that the company can launch commercial services. Getting a security go-ahead is crucial for satcom players, failing which the firms won't be allowed to offer commercial services, despite them holding the requisite permits. OneWeb got the satcom permit in 2021 while Jio satellite did in 2022 but both the companies are yet to secure the security compliance nod. These companies were given trial spectrum last year by the department of telecommunications (DoT) to test their services and also demonstrate to security agencies. The trial spectrum has now been extended for another six months by the DoT. The situation can be critical for Starlink as security agencies had earlier raised concerns over misuse of Starlink terminals in India, particularly in the border areas of Northeast region. ET had earlier reported about Starlink not cooperating in sharing details with the security agencies. This had forced the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to write to the DoT in March to investigate the matter. As per rules, satcom licence holders have to monitor all traffic, establish satellite earth station gateways, set up a control and monitoring centre in India, and all the traffic originating or terminating in India shall pass through Indian gateways. The companies are also required to create buffer zones along the international order. The DoT is soon expected to give trial spectrum soon to Starlink to demonstrate the security compliances. A few days back, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had met top officials of SpaceX, which is the holding company of Starlink, to discuss collaborative opportunities for powering the country's digital ambitions through transformative satellite technologies. The DoT is soon expected to finalise the pricing and rules for allocating satellite spectrum administratively after receiving recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The regulator had recommended administrative allocation of satcom spectrum for five years for a fee pegged at 4% of the licence holder's adjusted gross revenue. Satcom companies offering services in urban areas would have to shell out an additional ₹500 per subscriber annually, but nothing for rural users. There won't be any upfront charge or allocation price for satellite spectrum, as per its suggestions.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Lessons from space can help Indian auto leap ahead, says Pawan Goenka
As India races towards an electric mobility future, industry veteran Dr Pawan Goenka , Chairman of IN-SPACe and former Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra , believes the road ahead must begin with a fundamental transformation of India's automotive supply chain — starting with localising high-quality component manufacturing. 'In EVs, low-hanging fruits are already picked. We need to reach higher now,' Goenka told ET Manufacturing at the sixth edition of the Auto Tech Summit. 'India simply cannot afford to lag in developing capabilities for all major EV components — battery packs, motors, controllers, chargers, power electronics — everything. Today, the challenge isn't talent or ambition. It's scale.' Despite the emergence of hundreds of Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers across the country, Indian manufacturers still depend heavily on imports for several critical components, especially motors and advanced battery systems in the four-wheeler segment. Goenka pointed out that although battery pack assembly is now being done locally by most OEMs, large-scale motor manufacturing for electric cars remains elusive. 'Three-wheeler and two-wheeler motors are made here, but four-wheeler motors are still being imported. That must change,' he said. The Indian auto component industry recorded its highest-ever revenue of ₹5.6 lakh crore in FY24, according to the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), representing a 14.6 per cent year-on-year growth. The country also exported components worth $20.3 billion during the same period, showing India's competitiveness in global supply chains. But growth, Goenka said, is being held back by fragmentation and lack of scale. 'Multiple suppliers catering to small volumes means no one achieves efficiency. What's needed now is collaboration among OEMs — not competition — in sourcing key EV components. That's how we built scale in ICE vehicles over 25 years. We need to do the same for EVs.' He also warned OEMs not to regress to a 1990s mindset — prioritising short-term margins over long-term capability building. 'This is the time to push the supplier ecosystem forward, not cut corners,' he said. Space-age lessons for automotive scale Goenka's transition from the automotive sector to leading India's space commercialisation push has only reinforced his perspective on building ecosystems. 'Every sector change is an opportunity to learn and contribute. When I moved from cars to space, the technology complexity was staggering. But what I brought from automotive — supplier development, manufacturing discipline, ecosystem thinking — proved very useful.' He noted that while technology is unlikely to flow from automotive into space due to complexity gaps, process innovations certainly can. 'Space manufacturing today operates in batch mode. Automotive has mastered continuous flow. That's a mindset we can apply in space to scale faster,' Goenka said. India's space sector is also witnessing a parallel shift. Since the opening of the space economy to private players in 2020, over 190 space-tech startups have emerged in India, with investments crossing ₹1,000 crore in the past 24 months, as per IN-SPACe estimates. The ambition now is to grow India's share in the global space economy from the current 2 per cent to 10 per cent in the next decade — a leap that would require ecosystem-level thinking similar to what the automotive industry experienced two decades ago. Conversely, the automotive sector can stand to gain a lot from aerospace — if cost barriers are cracked. Technologies like advanced sensors, gyroscopes, anti-vibration systems, and thermal insulation, which are critical in space missions, could be translated into automotive use cases — particularly safety — if frugally engineered. 'The real challenge is bringing those costs down by removing unnecessary features and localising production. Institutions like ARAI could play a key role in bridging that gap,' he noted. Road Safety: A Cultural Imperative When asked about safety — especially for India's vulnerable two-wheeler users — Goenka acknowledged that while vehicle safety has improved drastically, the deeper issue lies elsewhere. 'Ten years ago, Indian cars weren't safe. Today, thanks to Gadkari's push, our norms match global standards. But the bigger problem is behaviour — lack of discipline on roads, refusal to wear helmets, disregard for rules. That's where we are failing.' India accounted for nearly 1.68 lakh road accident deaths in 2022, with two-wheelers involved in over 44 per cent of fatal crashes, according to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways data. Despite improved crash-test regulations and the proliferation of safer cars, India still leads the world in road fatalities. Goenka was blunt in his criticism: 'Educated people not wearing helmets — what could be more foolish? You're risking your life for what? There's no excuse. It's not a technology issue; it's a societal one.' EV Adoption: From promise to pragmatism Goenka was candid about the electric vehicle (EV) adoption journey in India. 'Three-wheelers led the charge because it made direct economic sense — more earnings, lower running costs. Mahindra's Treo helped create that ecosystem. Two-wheelers followed due to aggressive startup activity and affordability. But four-wheelers and commercial vehicles? OEMs just didn't back them early enough.' He believes momentum is finally picking up, thanks to improving products and falling battery costs. The average price of lithium-ion cells dropped by nearly 14% in 2023 globally, according to BloombergNEF, making EVs more competitive with ICE vehicles. 'New launches like the Tata BE.9, Maruti's eVX, and upcoming Korean models are changing the landscape. Once these vehicles become mainstream, adoption will accelerate. I drive a BE.9 myself — it's a joy. Costs ₹2 per km to run, compared to ₹17 for petrol. I took it to Pune and back without charging — range anxiety is no longer a real issue.' India's overall EV penetration stood at around 6.4 per cent in FY24, led primarily by electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, which together account for nearly 90% of total EV sales. The passenger car EV segment, while growing, still forms only about 2 per cent of the total car market. Goenka expects this to change steadily: 'Let's not expect miracles. I would cautiously say 10 per cent penetration for EV four-wheelers by 2030 is achievable — provided manufacturers continue to launch compelling products and maintain pricing discipline.' He also dismissed the often cited charging infrastructure concern. 'Range has gone up so much that charging at home is enough for most use cases. Public chargers are growing anyway. That challenge is mostly behind us.' From space-grade safety principles to coordinated localisation in EVs, Dr Goenka's central message is clear: India must stop thinking small. Whether it's components, scale, or vision, the next phase of Indian mobility will demand more collaboration, deeper innovation, and unwavering focus on long-term value.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
ETAuto Tech Summit 2025: India's automotive tech dreams need a bold R&D reset, industry leaders at the event
The message from the ETAuto Tech Summit 2025 in Bengaluru was loud and clear: if India wants to position itself as a global hub for automotive technologies, it must significantly step up its R&D investments and build a deep, future-ready talent pool. Industry stalwarts expressed concern over India's lagging progress and emphasised the urgent need to capitalise on the growing opportunities already unfolding within the country. 'R&D spending is key to long-term growth. One of our biggest misses has been underutilising opportunities to create IP, drive deep-tech innovation, and foster a strong research culture,' said Kishor Patil , Chairman, NASSCOM ER&D Council , MD and CEO, KPIT Technologies. He added that global growth trends clearly correlate with high R&D expenditure, and it is time for Indian OEMs to move beyond their acquisition mindset and instead embrace grassroots innovation to build a solid base of patented technologies and indigenous products. Drawing comparisons with innovation-driven nations like the US and China, Patil pointed out that those countries follow a well-structured, multi-pronged approach - government-led identification of key focus areas, direct project allocation to OEMs, strong academia-industry ties, and active support for startups. 'India is only beginning to build this ecosystem,' he said. 'We need to treat this as a fire-fighting exercise if we intend to close the gap.' The numbers back his concern. India's R&D investment in the automotive sector stands at just 0.65per cent of GDP, significantly behind China (2.56per cent ), the US (3.59per cent ), Japan (3.41per cent ), and Germany (3.13per cent ). 'We have just 4,552 global patents, while China has 70,160 and the US 54,087,' Patil said. India currently ranks 39th on the Global Innovation Index 2024, while China sits at 11th. Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), echoed the call for change. 'We must focus on building 'Brand India' by developing technologies indigenously, instead of always looking to acquire them abroad,' he said. 'We have fallen behind in R&D, now is the time to realign and push forward with renewed intent.' Adding further perspective, Dr. Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, emphasised the need for localised solutions. 'Increasing the localisation of components is critical,' he said. 'We also need India-specific datasets and software solutions tailored to real-world use cases in the country.' Dr. Andy Palmer, global automotive veteran and Chairman, Inobat Auto, captured the shifting paradigm, 'The race in the automotive world today is for technology leadership over market share.' Reflecting on the current geopolitical landscape, he highlighted the importance of strategic alliances and self-reliance. 'India must act now to protect and strengthen its supply chains.'
