Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar has stated that Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink will be permitted to operate up to two million connections in India, with a maximum internet speed of 200 Mbps. Addressing concerns about potential disruption to domestic telecom operators, the Minister clarified that Starlink’s limited customer base and high pricing would not pose a significant threat to state-run BSNL or private telecom services. The focus of satellite communication (satcom) services, including Starlink, is expected to remain in rural and remote regions where BSNL already maintains a strong footprint.
Starlink Gets Final Nod to Operate in India; BSNL Focuses on Affordable Expansion
The minister emphasized that satcom service costs will be relatively high, with monthly charges expected to be around ₹3,000. Meanwhile, BSNL has completed its 4G rollout and currently has no plans to raise tariffs, as it aims to expand market share first.
Earlier this month, Starlink secured its final regulatory clearance from India’s space regulator, IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre), enabling it to commence commercial operations. This approval comes after a long wait since 2022, with the telecom ministry granting prior permission last month. Starlink now becomes the third satellite internet provider in India, joining Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm.
Starlink Partners with Jio, Airtel; Pricing Set for India Launch
Although the company has obtained the necessary licence, valid for five years, it still must acquire spectrum from the government, build ground infrastructure, and pass security compliance testing. Reports suggest that Starlink’s equipment kits in India will cost around ₹33,000, and monthly service fees are expected to range from ₹3,000 to ₹4,200 — similar to pricing in Bangladesh and Bhutan.
To distribute its services, Starlink has partnered with major Indian telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. These strategic tie-ups, established in April, are expected to help Starlink tap into India’s growing demand for internet access in underserved areas.
Summary:
Starlink has received final approval to operate in India with a cap of two million users and speeds up to 200 Mbps. Targeting rural areas, its high-cost services will be distributed via Jio and Airtel. Despite regulatory clearance, spectrum allocation and infrastructure setup remain pending before full-scale rollout.
