Our Bureau
New Delhi
Elon Musk’s Starlink is gearing up to revolutionise internet access in India, especially in remote and underserved regions, after securing a crucial operating licence from the Ministry of Telecommunications. The satellite broadband service is expected to roll out within the next 12 months, offering unlimited data at a monthly price of ₹3,000, with a one-time receiver kit cost of ₹33,000.
The move marks a significant milestone in India’s digital journey, as Starlink joins Bharti Airtel’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm as the third company authorised to provide satellite-based internet services in the country. Starlink’s entry comes at a time when India, despite having some of the world’s lowest data rates, still struggles to deliver reliable connectivity to millions in rural and remote areas.
Starlink’s unique selling point is its use of a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, capable of delivering 600–700 Gbps of bandwidth. This technology is designed to bridge the digital divide by reaching locations where terrestrial fibre and mobile networks are either unavailable or unreliable.
The pricing strategy for India closely mirrors Starlink’s recent launch in Bangladesh, where similar monthly and hardware costs apply. The first-year cost for Indian customers will be around ₹66,000, which is significantly lower than earlier estimates by former Starlink India head Sanjay Bhargava, who had projected a first-year expense of ₹1.58 lakh.
Starlink’s Asia expansion continues, with services already available in countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Its Indian pricing is positioned as a premium option, targeting customers who currently have few or no alternatives for high-speed internet.
However, before Starlink can officially launch, it must clear additional regulatory hurdles, including spectrum allocation recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which are still pending approval by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
