Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 9: Elon Musk’s Starlink has received the green light from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), clearing the final regulatory hurdle for launching its commercial satellite-based internet services in India.

With IN-SPACe’s approval, Starlink is now poised to roll out its much-anticipated affordable satellite broadband in the country, potentially transforming internet access in remote and underserved regions.

The company still needs to secure spectrum allocation from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and set up ground infrastructure before launching services. A trial spectrum will be granted soon to help Starlink complete its mandatory security compliance demonstrations.

Starlink has already signed its first commercial agreements with Indian VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) providers, who offer internet services in areas with poor or no terrestrial connectivity.

Although most groundwork is in place, some technical and procedural steps remain. Services are expected to begin in a few months, according to officials.

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently confirmed that all due diligence has been completed and once Starlink receives the remaining approvals, it can begin operations in India.

Starlink operates the world’s largest satellite network, with over 6,750 satellites currently in orbit. The service is already available in several countries, including Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Jordan.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a key competitor, is also in line for regulatory clearance in India, planning a similar large-scale satellite internet rollout.