Elon Musk-led Starlink has received a key satcom license from the Indian government, clearing an important hurdle in its plans to launch satellite-based internet services in the country.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed the development after a meeting with SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell. In a statement, Scindia said Shotwell appreciated the license granted to Starlink and the discussion focused on expanding satellite connectivity to support India’s digital goals.
With this approval, Starlink becomes the third satellite communication company in India to receive this license, joining Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio. The company is now required to obtain additional approvals from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) and secure spectrum allocation before launching operations.
The development comes after Starlink was issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecommunications, allowing the company to move ahead with formal compliance requirements.
Starlink operates a global satellite constellation of over 7,000 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet services. These LEO satellites orbit at around 550 km from Earth, offering faster connectivity compared to traditional satellites positioned over 30,000 km away.
India had previously halted Starlink’s initial attempt to enter the market in 2021 after the company began accepting pre-orders without regulatory clearance. At that time, it refunded customers and paused expansion.
The company is re-entering a market where local players had earlier opposed its presence but later changed their approach. Both Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have signed partnership deals with SpaceX to offer satellite internet services in India.
Pricing remains a key consideration for Starlink’s commercial model. Industry estimates suggest monthly subscription fees could range between INR 3,000 and INR 7,000, with a one-time hardware cost of INR 20,000 to INR 35,000 for the user terminal kit. The company may adopt a premium pricing strategy due to limited bandwidth availability, which could restrict access in cost-sensitive markets.
Meanwhile, regulatory dynamics continue to shift. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a five-year cap on satellite broadband licenses to assess market growth. Starlink is pushing for a 20-year license, citing high upfront investments.
Indian authorities have also introduced stricter security guidelines for foreign satellite operators, adding to compliance obligations.
Despite its low global user base and pricing concerns, Starlink’s formal entry into India marks a significant step in expanding satellite internet access to underserved regions.
