What Is Starlink, Why India Approved It, And Will You Get Free Internet? | Explained
Starlink Satellite Internet In India: In a move that could transform the digital landscape of the remotest corners, Elon Musk’s Starlink has officially got licence to begin satellite-based broadband services in India. The approval for satcom services, issued by the Ministry of Telecommunications, paves the way for SpaceX’s ambitious satellite internet project to operate alongside existing licence holders, i.e. Reliance Jio and OneWeb.
Starlink, a venture by Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, is not your conventional internet service provider. It bypasses the limitations of fibre optics and cellular towers by beaming internet directly from a constellation of small satellites orbiting Earth at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 kilometres. These satellites connect with a compact dish antenna installed at a user’s home or office, which then relays internet via a router.
With more than 6,000 satellites already in orbit and a roadmap to expand the network to 42,000 by 2027, Starlink is designed to provide high-speed internet, ranging from 50 to 250 Mbps, even in the most isolated terrains. All that’s needed is a clear view of the sky.
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Why India Needs Starlink
Starlink is the third company to secure the licence from the Department of Telecom (DoT). Officials confirmed that Starlink has indeed received licence, and said they will be granted trial spectrum in 15-20 days of applying for it, reported PTI.
Despite years of government-backed broadband expansion projects like BharatNet, most remote areas including hilly, tribal, border, and island regions remain underserved. Connectivity gaps persist in areas like Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, parts of Jammu & Kashmir, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where laying fibre or setting up mobile towers is either technically challenging or economically unfeasible.
Starlink is being seen as a vital tool in bridging this last-mile connectivity, a senior telecom official said, citing the need for fast, reliable internet in border surveillance, emergency response, education, and healthcare delivery.
In particular, Starlink’s ability to function independently of terrestrial infrastructure makes it an invaluable resource during natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, or in conflict zones where existing networks are vulnerable or inoperative.
A Digital Lifeline For Villages
From enabling online education for children in Himalayan villages to facilitating telemedicine in forest interiors, Starlink promises to bring the benefits of Digital India to places previously beyond its reach. Services like e-banking, digital governance, and real-time information about government schemes could now become part of daily life in the most disconnected areas.
The government is also exploring options to subsidise Starlink connections in rural India under public-private partnerships. “Affordable access is key," said a Department of Telecom source, hinting at upcoming policies to make the service viable for low-income users.
Though technically available across India, including urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, Starlink is unlikely to disrupt metro markets where affordable and high-speed fibre or 5G is already prevalent. Moreover, the requirement for an open sky view makes it less suited to dense cityscapes or high-rise buildings.
“Starlink is ideal for independent homes or institutions in open rural areas," an industry analyst noted, adding that signal quality can degrade in apartments surrounded by concrete or trees.
Starlink Cost
While there’s no official pricing of Starlink announced for India yet, monthly subscriptions in the US and Europe cost the equivalent of Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000. The hardware kit (dish and router) currently sells for around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. However, insiders suggest that prices in India will likely be reduced, especially for rural deployment, due to cost sensitivity and competition.
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Speed, Privacy, And Security
Starlink’s projected speed range – 50 to 250 Mbps – may outperform existing mobile networks, especially in underserved zones. Unlike mobile internet, it does not rely on a telecom signal and functions independently. For many rural areas without even 3G access, this could mean a leapfrog to cutting-edge internet.
However, concerns about data privacy have been raised, given Starlink’s status as a US-based firm. India has mandated compliance with its data localisation laws, requiring all user data to be stored on Indian servers. “National security and data sovereignty are non-negotiable," a government official affirmed.
Starlink had previously launched pre-orders in India back in 2021, but without obtaining regulatory approval. This prompted a government warning and forced the company to pause operations. Now, with all clearances in place, it is set for an official and full-fledged launch in 2025.
India’s Starlink rollout will begin with a focus on rural, tribal, and strategic zones. Analysts expect initial users to include government departments, health and education institutions, and defense establishments. Over time, residential and small commercial users in remote locations will gain access as well.
This approval comes months after Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the United States, where the two discussed Starlink’s long-delayed launch plans and India’s concerns over meeting certain security conditions.