Satellite Internet Service by Starlink Given Green Light to Commence Operations in India
Starlink Granted License to Operate in India, Paving the Way for Satellite Internet
In a significant development, SpaceX's subsidiary Starlink has received a license from India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide satellite internet services in India. The approval marks a significant milestone for Starlink as it moves closer to launching commercial operations in one of the world's largest and fastest-growing internet markets.
The license, valid for five years until July 2030, was granted by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) on July 8, 2025. This allows Starlink to operate its Gen1 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation over India, using the Ka and Ku frequency bands for uplink and downlink.
However, before full commercial launch, Starlink must undergo further testing to demonstrate security and operational standards, including meeting India's stringent national security and data localization rules. The company also needs to procure trial spectrum from the DoT, as mandated, which allows limited commercial use and operational testing.
The path into the Indian market was bolstered by distribution agreements signed with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, India's two largest telecom providers, earlier this year. These partnerships are expected to bring Starlink terminals into thousands of retail outlets, making the high-speed broadband service more accessible to consumers.
The journey to this approval was not without challenges. Starlink began its push for entry into India in 2022, but the progress was repeatedly stalled by national security concerns, regulatory hurdles, and evolving government policies on foreign satellite communications. In January 2022, the Indian government directed Starlink to refund all pre-orders and stop accepting new ones until it secured the appropriate licenses. Customers who had paid a $99 deposit were informed via email that refunds would be processed promptly.
With these approvals and compliance steps underway, Starlink aims to deliver high-speed broadband to remote and underserved areas of India by late 2025 or early 2026, enhancing India's internet infrastructure via satellite. The pricing for Starlink in India has not yet been disclosed, but it is expected to be among the most affordable offered by the company.
DoT sources suggest that Starlink will be granted trial spectrum within 15 to 20 days of applying for it. The timeline for when the Starlink service would finally launch in India remains uncertain, but it is expected to begin by the end of 2025 or early 2026, pending completion of these conditions.
Starlink's Gen1 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation's operation in India, enabled by the licensed technology, is set to revolutionize the space-and-astronomy landscape and provide an unparalleled connection through satellite internet, as per the recent license granted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). In the coming months, with the incorporation of technology from various aspects, including Ka and Ku frequency bands, Starlink aims to diversify India's science and technology-driven infrastructure.
