Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, Starlink, is on the verge of securing its final regulatory approval to begin commercial operations in India, according to a report by a media agency.
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has issued a draft document to Starlink, which functions similarly to a letter of intent. Once signed by both parties, it will convert into formal authorisation.
This move puts Starlink on equal regulatory footing with Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite, both of whom already possess similar approvals. Starlink recently received the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, becoming the third satcom player permitted to offer commercial satellite communication services in India.
Despite the regulatory go-ahead, Starlink cannot immediately start offering services. Under Indian telecom norms, it must first set up domestic infrastructure—including earth stations and control centres—within Indian territory.
Furthermore, the company must conduct live service demonstrations to meet security compliance requirements. Only after approval from Indian security agencies will Starlink be allowed to serve consumers.
“Only after security agencies approve the operations will Starlink be allowed to offer services to consumers,”
— media agency
Other licensed operators have faced similar hurdles. OneWeb, licensed in 2021, and Jio Satellite, licensed in 2022, are still awaiting security clearance. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had previously allocated trial spectrum for these demonstrations, recently extended by another six months.
Starlink's road to full clearance may be complicated by prior security concerns. Indian agencies earlier flagged unauthorised use of Starlink terminals in sensitive Northeast border zones. Authorities criticised the company's lack of cooperation in sharing technical details.
In March, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) formally requested the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to investigate these incidents.
As per Indian satcom rules, all domestic traffic must pass through India-based gateways, and operators must establish local monitoring and control centres. Additionally, buffer zones are mandatory near international borders.
India is seen as a key growth market, but Starlink’s pricing will align with regional cost structures. The starter kits will cost approximately ₹33,000, with monthly plans priced between ₹3,000 and ₹4,200—similar to rates announced in Bangladesh and Bhutan, where the service launched earlier in 2025.
The kits will be distributed via Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, both of whom signed distribution agreements with Starlink in April.
Following Starlink’s licence approval, Gwynne Shotwell, President & COO of SpaceX, met with India’s Communications Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, last week. The meeting focused on potential collaboration in satellite communication as part of the Digital India initiative.
"Had a productive meeting with Ms. @Gwynne_Shotwell, President & COO of @SpaceX, on India's next frontier in connectivity," Scindia posted. “We delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India's soaring ambitions.”
Shotwell called the Starlink licence a “great start to the journey.”
Starlink’s near-final entry into the Indian market marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the country’s satellite internet ecosystem. With regulatory approvals nearly complete, the focus now shifts to domestic infrastructure deployment and security validation.
While pricing and partnerships have already been established, the final launch depends on clearances from Indian security agencies—a hurdle that has delayed other players like OneWeb and Jio Satellite.
The government’s recent engagement with SpaceX leadership signals growing interest in satellite connectivity to bridge India’s digital divide. Once operational, Starlink will offer high-speed internet even in remote regions, reshaping India’s connectivity landscape.