Elon Musk Can Be Allowed To Provide Satellite-Based Internet Connectivity Across India

In recent news, Elon Musk’s Starlink has most likely secured permission from the telecom ministry inorder to provide services in India.

Elon Musk’s Starlink Likely To Receive A Green Light In India

As per this update, a high-level meeting is scheduled for later this month with the agenda to discuss Starlink’s proposal for a global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) services license. 

As expected, this development will be closely watched considering its significant implications for the future of the satellite internet project. 

“The meeting is likely to give an approval to the proposal, though we cannot rule out certain last-minute hiccups that may cause some more delays,” the media report suggests.

The other telecom players in the country like Reliance Jio and One Web, led by Sunil Mittal, have already obtained the GMPCS license in India. 

Here, GMPCS license is offered to the companies by the government, allowing them to offer satellite communication services in licensed service areas.

 Basically, this license puts them ahead in the race to establish satellite internet services in the country. 

When it comes to Starlink, its next steps in India are unclear at this point. 

The outcome of the meeting and any potential delays will likely determine the course of action for Elon Musk’s ambitious project in the country. 

Besides this, Starlink, a company backed by Elon Musk, will need to obtain approval from various government departments and the Department of Space before it can begin operations in India, the report noted.

Providing Internet Access In Remote Villages

The Telecom Ministry reprimanded Starlink in late 2021, for accepting advance payments from customers without having obtained the necessary license. 

During that time, the Ministry instructed Starlink to refund the money to the approximately 5,000 customers who had pre-ordered its services in India. 

In its defense, Elon Musk has expressed the importance of Starlink in India.

According to him, it can be incredibly beneficial in remote villages that lack internet access or high-speed services. 

Elon Musk stated that Starlink has the potential to be incredibly helpful in remote villages in India that currently do not have internet access or reliable high-speed services, following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States.

The company further urged the Indian government to avoid auctioning the spectrum and instead allocate licenses based on the global trend. 

The spectrum is a natural resource that should be shared by all companies, according to the company.

Adding that an auction could lead to geographical restrictions and increased costs. 

Last month, the Indian government published this plea.