Prime Highlights :
- Elon Musk’s Starlink receives conditional license to provide satellite internet services in India.
- Government chooses administrative spectrum allocation, allowing Starlink entry into the country.
Key Facts :
- Starlink receives Letter of Intent (LoI) from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
- Grant of license becomes absolute on fulfillment of regulatory and security compliances.
Key Background :
Starlink, a satellite internet venture of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has moved one step closer to offering its services in India. Roughly three years after waiting on the back foot, the Indian government has issued a Letter of Intent to the company which has obtained in-principle approval to provide satellite-based broadband facilities in India. This comes after the government recently decided to free the satellite spectrum administratively rather than auctioning it, hence aligning India’s regulatory approach with the rest of the world.
The policy shift on spectrum was a necessity if Starlink had to make an entry into India. The large local players such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio had earlier lobbied for airwave auctions in the name of fair competition. But the government had opted for administrative allotment to encourage space communication and drive rural internet penetration—overcoming a key regulatory challenge for the likes of Starlink.
Starlink has also initiated constructing strategic partnerships with Indian telecommunications operators to aid in deployment. Tie-ups with top operators such as Jio and Airtel will help the company to establish distribution and installation networks within India, particularly in under-penetrated and distant locations. The tie-up model will also help Starlink to remain compliant with local regulatory requirements and become an even larger part of the ecosystem.
Despite this achievement, Starlink is not immediately able to commence operations. The Letter of Intent is subject to certain conditions—grant of final licenses subject to compliance with a series of regulatory and security requirements imposed by the Indian government. Upon fulfillment of these requirements, Starlink will commence its operation in earnest, providing high-speed satellite internet connectivity.
Starlink has been considered as a game-changer in the digital revolution of India, especially in rural and geographically challenged regions where traditional infrastructure does not exist. Its fleet of low-Earth-orbit satellites has the capability to provide round-the-clock broadband access, filling in the digital gap and improving digital inclusion in India.
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