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Entrepreneur
08-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Starlink Receives DoT Nod to Launch Satellite Internet Services in India
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Elon Musk's Starlink has secured a key regulatory clearance to operate in India, marking a significant step in the country's evolving satellite broadband landscape. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Starlink for Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS), VSAT, and ISP licenses, following the company's agreement to meet India's revised security guidelines. A government official familiar with the matter confirmed the development, told MoneyControl, "Yes, Starlink has been issued LoI by the DoT... the LoI came after it gave an undertaking to meet license conditions and security protocols under the new revised security guidelines." Final approval is expected once the company fulfils all licensing obligations. Starlink's licensing progress comes in the wake of a broader tightening of rules for satellite internet providers in India. Just a day before the LoI was issued, the government updated norms requiring lawful interception, data localisation, gateway security clearance, and local manufacturing compliance. A source also noted that In-SPACe authorisation for Starlink will be granted shortly. Minister of State for Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, addressed concerns around market disruption. "This [Starlink] mainly connects remote areas where traditional networks will be hard to reach... it is mainly for inside the home and not for mobile," he said on May 6. "People are so scared, they will take away all the market and all this stuff. That is not true... their service and hardware costs are high." Starlink applied for its GMPCS licence in 2022 and must now establish earth station gateways to begin commercial operations. With over 6,750 satellites in orbit globally, the company offers high-speed, low-latency internet to underserved regions. As part of its India strategy, Starlink has tied up with Reliance Jio and Airtel to distribute its services, particularly targeting rural and remote zones. However, analysts warn that steep pricing, estimated to be 10–14 times higher than existing broadband offerings, could limit widespread adoption. Experts believe Starlink's service will likely remain a premium option for small businesses and niche markets unless supported by government subsidies.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Indian states are in a race to board space-tech wagon
After battling for IT parks, electronics clusters, and semiconductor fabs, Indian states are now setting their sights far beyond – on the space ecosystem. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and others are busy drafting space policies, setting up space parks, and offering sweeteners to attract private space companies and competition is likely to drive investments and create specialised hubs, according to Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-SPACe), the nodal agency to promote private investment in the space industry, and startups that ET spoke with. States also see an opportunity to gain priority access to central projects, funding, and tie-ups with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by preparing the ground, showing initiative with land, infrastructure, ease of business, and policy support, industry watchers said. 'State governments have been actively engaging with spacetech startups and holding consultations. They are encouraging them to establish manufacturing or operational bases within their territories,' said Rohan Ganapathy, co-chairman of the CII National Committee on Space and CEO of Bellatrix Aerospace. While Bengaluru has led the private space ecosystem in the last decade, policies and invitations from other states are creating strong competition for Karnataka, demanding rapid acceleration, he said. With the Indian space industry aiming to grow to $44 billion by 2033 and capture 8% of the global market, states are keen to explore revenue generation through investments, industry experts said. Space pie that states want A Gujarat government official said it has already received two proposals from electronic component manufacturers to make space-graded components. Gujarat's plan to set up a satellite launchpad in either Dholera or Kutch has garnered the attention of the space industry. The state has linked its spacetech policy to its existing Gujarat Electronics Policy and Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy. Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) managing director Sandeep Nanduri said the state has leverage over others due to its strong base in electronics, automotive, and heavy manufacturing. The state's 'Space Industrial Policy' will focus on spacetech services across upstream and downstream. Tamil Nadu aims to provide better subsidies and a talent pool, Nanduri said without revealing exact details. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's announcement of introducing a spacetech policy in the next three months was the latest entrant to the domain. Bengaluru-headquartered Digantara said while states are not actively driving demand, they are keen to align with central government policies. 'We have had talks with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to set up satellite manufacturing and assembly lines but have not finalised any plans yet,' its CEO Anirudh Sharma said. Digantara is evaluating which state offers the best manufacturing subsidies, as the cost of setting up facilities remains high in India. Early investment will pay off The demand for spacetech is still in the nascent stages within India. Most startups are looking at the US or European markets to grow their revenues. Industry experts said states are betting on future readiness and also find the domain aspirational, which grabs a lot of eyeballs. Earlier, ET had reported that startups such as Bellatrix Aerospace, Pixxel Space, and Digantara have set up shop in the US to benefit from non-price-sensitive markets. 'There's a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) happening too,' said Apurwa Masook, CEO of IISc-incubated SpaceFields. 'No state wants to be the one that doesn't prepare for the next technology boom.' The startup is developing India's first aerospike rocket engine. 'By moving early, they can anchor clusters to create a gravitational pull for global and ancillary companies,' Masook added. In-SPACe director (promotions) Vinod Kumar said, 'Incentives are crucial in attracting investments, especially for high-tech industries like space.' States offering strong incentives—tax breaks, subsidies, or a single-window approval process—will create an ecosystem within their states, he said. While this decentralised growth is a positive signal for innovation and employment, it also demands careful management, Indian Space Association (ISpA) director general, Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhatt said. 'It is essential that state space policies do not lead to fragmentation or duplication, but be a harbinger of added opportunities and fair competition for the growing space sector,' he said. 'Areas like spectrum management, orbital slots, and ITU-level engagements must and will remain coordinated through central authorities.'
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Indian states are in a race to board space-tech wagon
This competition is likely to drive investments and create specialised hubs, according to Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-SPACe), the nodal agency to promote private investment in the space industry, and startups that ET spoke with. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads After battling for IT parks, electronics clusters, and semiconductor fabs, Indian states are now setting their sights far beyond – on the space ecosystem. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and others are busy drafting space policies, setting up space parks, and offering sweeteners to attract private space companies and competition is likely to drive investments and create specialised hubs, according to Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-SPACe), the nodal agency to promote private investment in the space industry, and startups that ET spoke also see an opportunity to gain priority access to central projects, funding, and tie-ups with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by preparing the ground, showing initiative with land, infrastructure, ease of business, and policy support, industry watchers said.'State governments have been actively engaging with spacetech startups and holding consultations. They are encouraging them to establish manufacturing or operational bases within their territories,' said Rohan Ganapathy, co-chairman of the CII National Committee on Space and CEO of Bellatrix Bengaluru has led the private space ecosystem in the last decade, policies and invitations from other states are creating strong competition for Karnataka, demanding rapid acceleration, he the Indian space industry aiming to grow to $44 billion by 2033 and capture 8% of the global market, states are keen to explore revenue generation through investments, industry experts said.A Gujarat government official said it has already received two proposals from electronic component manufacturers to make space-graded components. Gujarat's plan to set up a satellite launchpad in either Dholera or Kutch has garnered the attention of the space industry. The state has linked its spacetech policy to its existing Gujarat Electronics Policy and Gujarat IT/ITeS Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) managing director Sandeep Nanduri said the state has leverage over others due to its strong base in electronics, automotive, and heavy manufacturing. The state's 'Space Industrial Policy' will focus on spacetech services across upstream and Nadu aims to provide better subsidies and a talent pool, Nanduri said without revealing exact chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's announcement of introducing a spacetech policy in the next three months was the latest entrant to the Digantara said while states are not actively driving demand, they are keen to align with central government policies. 'We have had talks with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to set up satellite manufacturing and assembly lines but have not finalised any plans yet,' its CEO Anirudh Sharma is evaluating which state offers the best manufacturing subsidies, as the cost of setting up facilities remains high in demand for spacetech is still in the nascent stages within India. Most startups are looking at the US or European markets to grow their revenues. Industry experts said states are betting on future readiness and also find the domain aspirational, which grabs a lot of ET had reported that startups such as Bellatrix Aerospace, Pixxel Space, and Digantara have set up shop in the US to benefit from non-price-sensitive markets.'There's a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) happening too,' said Apurwa Masook, CEO of IISc-incubated SpaceFields. 'No state wants to be the one that doesn't prepare for the next technology boom.'The startup is developing India's first aerospike rocket engine. 'By moving early, they can anchor clusters to create a gravitational pull for global and ancillary companies,' Masook director (promotions) Vinod Kumar said, 'Incentives are crucial in attracting investments, especially for high-tech industries like space.' States offering strong incentives—tax breaks, subsidies, or a single-window approval process—will create an ecosystem within their states, he this decentralised growth is a positive signal for innovation and employment, it also demands careful management, Indian Space Association (ISpA) director general, Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhatt said.'It is essential that state space policies do not lead to fragmentation or duplication, but be a harbinger of added opportunities and fair competition for the growing space sector,' he said. 'Areas like spectrum management, orbital slots, and ITU-level engagements must and will remain coordinated through central authorities.'
