Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 16: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with top executives from Elon Musk’s Starlink on Wednesday to discuss the company's investment plans in India.

The meeting included Starlink vice president Chad Gibbs and senior director Ryan Goodnight, focusing on Starlink's cutting-edge technology, existing partnerships, and its future ventures in India, Goyal shared on X (formerly Twitter).

This comes as Indian telecom giants like Airtel and Vodafone Idea are already in talks with Starlink for the potential launch of satellite telecom services in the country. India’s Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has emphasized the importance of satellite internet in bridging gaps in rural and remote areas, where traditional fibre or mobile connectivity is often not feasible.

Scindia stated that satellite communications would complement existing terrestrial and fibre networks and play a critical role during natural disasters when telecom infrastructure may be destroyed. He also pointed out that Starlink is yet to receive a regulatory license to operate in India and is awaiting new spectrum pricing rules from the government.

The Indian government is open to granting licenses to companies that comply with the country’s regulatory requirements. Starlink, owned by SpaceX, aims to offer high-speed satellite internet globally, having already made significant strides in space exploration, including delivering astronauts to the International Space Station.