Starlink Crosses 9 Million Global Subscribers — Is India Next?

Starlink has rapidly crossed 9 million users worldwide, adding one million subscribers in under seven weeks. As SpaceX accelerates expansion, questions are rising again — when will Starlink finally arrive in India?

Starlink crosses 9 million users globally — rapid growth sparks excitement over India launch

Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, has reached another remarkable milestone in its global expansion journey. The broadband service, operated by SpaceX, has officially surpassed 9 million active customers worldwide, achieving this feat at unprecedented speed. Even more striking is the rate of growth — the platform added nearly one million users in less than seven weeks, highlighting its accelerating adoption curve.

On Monday evening, SpaceX shared an update on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Starlink is connecting more than 9M active customers with high-speed internet across 155 countries, territories, and many other markets.”

This update reflects a sharp rise from early November, when Starlink’s subscriber count stood at around 8 million. In simple terms, the company has been onboarding over 20,000 new customers every single day — roughly one new user every four seconds.

Starlink’s unique promise: internet everywhere

A satellite-powered connectivity revolution

Starlink owes its success to its ability to deliver reliable broadband to regions where traditional infrastructure struggles to reach. The system operates through a rapidly expanding network of over 9,000 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, creating what Musk famously calls a planetary “mesh of connectivity.”

Whether it is bringing connectivity to remote Himalayan villages, supporting researchers in Antarctica, or restoring communication in disaster-hit regions, Starlink has proven to be a transformative technology across multiple sectors.

Why adoption is rising so fast

Bridging digital gaps across continents

The surge in Starlink subscriptions underscores the widening demand for dependable, high-speed internet, especially in underserved rural or remote locations. With frequent Falcon 9 launches, SpaceX continues to grow capacity and improve service reliability.

Musk has previously suggested that Starlink could ultimately serve “hundreds of millions” of users, with network speeds that rival — and in some cases surpass — terrestrial broadband connections.

A potential IPO on the horizon

Financial momentum and expansion plans

As Starlink’s footprint expands, speculation about its financial future is also rising. Reports indicate that SpaceX may consider taking Starlink public as early as next year, potentially valuing the satellite service at around $1.5 trillion — placing it among the most valuable tech spin-offs ever.

Such profitability, Musk has hinted, could make Starlink self-sustaining and enable SpaceX to devote more resources toward ambitious deep-space missions.

When will Starlink launch in India?

Regulatory progress and renewed engagement

Despite its worldwide growth, one major question remains for Indian consumers — when will Starlink finally roll out in India?

The company paused its original rollout in 2021 following regulatory objections after accepting pre-orders without formal licensing. Since then, Starlink has been actively engaging with the Department of Telecommunications and Indian authorities to secure necessary approvals.

Recently, Musk added to the speculation by writing in response to Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia:
“Looking forward to serving India with @Starlink.”

Industry observers believe that, once it secures approval, Starlink could play a significant role in bridging India's rural broadband divide and competing with players like Bharti-backed OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

What lies ahead?

For now, Indian users continue to watch from the sidelines as Starlink’s global network scales at breakneck speed. If approvals come through, the next wave of new customers could very well include millions from India — potentially reshaping the country’s digital access landscape.