Starlink could soon bring its satellite-based broadband services to India.
It is looking to be awarded a licence to be able to start operations in the country.
What is satellite internet?
Satellite internet differs from the traditional internet which depends on cables or copper wires in that it uses signals from satellites orbiting the Earth.
This makes it ideal for providing internet connectivity to areas where traditional internet (including fibre-cable) services are not yet available.
How does it work?
The service is facilitated through dedicated channels that are installed at home or on their remote stations.
In Starlink’s case, services rely on the constellation of LEO (Low-Earth Orbit) Starlink satellites operated by SpaceX.
So far it has launched over 4,000 satellites with more on the way.
Decisive meeting soon to be held
SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, had applied for the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence with the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) last year.
Sources indicate that DoT officials are likely to meet on September 20 to deliberate on whether to grant the required licence.
Starlink presently offers its services in 32 countries worldwide with ambitions to enter India for a long time.
Previous efforts
Audaciously, it had begun taking pre-orders in the country even without having procured any licence.
Promptly thereafter it received a warning from the DoT along with orders to apply for a licence to operate.
Following this, it had to refund money to those who had paid.
Starlink’s official website still notes that it awaits “regulatory approval.”
Govt reasoning
One among people close to the development said, “We didn’t want to encourage any company to give services without licences.
We experienced it in the case of Skype, we couldn’t bring the company into a licensing regime.
Now, it is out of our ambit, not following any regulation.”
Companies possessing licence
It should be noted that Starlink is the third company to apply for the GMPCS licence.
At present only the Airtel-backed OneWeb and Jio’s satellite arm, Jio Space Technology have been able to procure it.
What next?
After getting the licence, Starlink will need the satellite spectrum from DoT’s wireless planning and coordination.
The department will likely go the auction route to allocate satcom spectrum, something telecom companies support while satellite companies oppose.
