India has granted final regulatory approval to Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture Starlink, clearing a key hurdle for its commercial rollout in the country.
The clearance, issued by IN-SPACe, provides Starlink with a five-year license to operate using its Gen1 low-Earth orbit satellite constellation, aligning it with other global satellite providers like OneWeb and Jio-SES already licensed in India.
Although the approval allows Starlink to move forward, the company still needs to secure spectrum rights, build ground infrastructure, and comply with India’s security and data localization requirements before launching its services commercially.
Starlink plans to target rural and underserved regions with high-speed internet, offering download speeds ranging from 25 Mbps to over 200 Mbps. The expected upfront hardware cost for Indian customers is around ₹33,000 for the satellite dish and installation kit.
Monthly subscription prices are likely to start at about ₹3,000, with potential promotional plans beginning near ₹840 during the initial phase.
Major telecom companies Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have signed agreements to support distribution, installation, and customer servicing for Starlink’s hardware, aiming to integrate satellite broadband into their broader offerings.
Industry analysts have noted that the service will be positioned as a premium product, up to 10 to 14 times more expensive than existing Fiber-optic broadband, making it best suited for remote businesses, emergency services, and consumers in areas lacking reliable internet access.
The commercial rollout of Starlink in India is projected to take place in late 2025 or early 2026, pending completion of all regulatory and infrastructure requirements.
