Elon Musk’s satellite broadband venture, Starlink, may finally be preparing for a formal entry into the Indian market. After months of back and forth, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to the company, marking a key step towards granting it a full-fledged satellite communication licence.
This comes despite vocal opposition from Indian telecom majors like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, who had earlier flagged concerns over Starlink's entry. Both companies have since forged partnerships with the firm, hinting at a possible shift in strategy.
According to sources quoted across the media, the DoT has cleared the LoI for Starlink under three categories — GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite), VSAT, and ISP — allowing the firm to move ahead in the licensing process. The final licence will be awarded once the company meets all conditions, including those tied to national security.
The same LoI process was earlier followed for rivals like Jio Satellite Communications and Eutelsat-OneWeb. Amazon’s Project Kuiper, however, is still waiting in line.
Union Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, addressing reporters on May 6, said, “It is a little complicated issue. We have to look from multiple angles. Security is one of them. Definitely, since it is in the final stages, we will get back on that.”
On April 16, a Starlink delegation — including India market access director Parnil Urdhwareshe and senior global executives Chad Gibbs and Ryan Goodnight — met with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, reflecting ongoing high-level engagement.
While Starlink has agreed to most conditions laid out by the DoT, two proposed clauses — mandatory Indian majority shareholding and a ban on using satellite terminals near international borders — were reportedly withdrawn. Officials said these conditions conflicted with existing telecom and FDI rules.
As it stands, India allows up to 100% foreign direct investment in telecom services, and Starlink appears to be in line with that.
Unlike other players like Eutelsat-OneWeb or Jio-SES, which focus on fixed satellite services, Starlink is aiming to provide mobile satellite internet across India. This could be a first under the GMPCS licence. In practical terms, it means people can stay connected even while travelling — useful in remote regions or during emergency response efforts where standard infrastructure doesn't reach.
Since 2019, Starlink has deployed nearly 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) as part of its effort to create a global satellite broadband network. The system is a subsidiary of SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace firm.
Most likely, yes — at least in the beginning. Industry estimates suggest Starlink's subscription plans in India could range from ₹3,000 to ₹7,000 per month. On top of that, users may have to shell out ₹20,000 to ₹35,000 for the terminal kit, which includes a satellite dish and Wi-Fi router.
That’s steep, considering conventional broadband in India averages just ₹500 a month. Naturally, early users are expected to be institutions, businesses, and residents in remote areas where traditional connectivity is poor or unavailable.
Still, analysts believe the service has potential to be a “digital equaliser” for parts of rural India — especially if government support or subsidies are brought into play. Its ability to offer fast internet in fibre-dark zones could prove useful for remote education, healthcare, and disaster relief.
Despite all the buzz, the government doesn't appear overly concerned about Starlink upsetting the status quo. At a recent industry event, Minister Pemmasani noted that the service is “10 times more expensive” than existing options and has fewer than 5 million users globally.
“Whether they come or not… they will be very small players even if they come,” he said. The minister also stressed that satellite broadband is not meant to replace mobile or urban networks, but rather to supplement them in challenging locations.
Even with the LoI in hand, Starlink still needs approvals from IN-SPACe — the Indian space regulator — as well as spectrum allocation from the government. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is currently working on pricing recommendations for satellite spectrum, which will likely determine the service’s cost viability.
Meanwhile, Musk is expected to visit India later this year. Industry insiders believe the trip could be tied to finalising partnerships with Indian telecom players and exploring investment prospects.
