Starlink gets licence to begin India ops, way cleared for spectrum allocation

India has officially granted Elon Musk’s Starlink a Unified License to provide satellite-based internet services in the country. This milestone decision by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), announced by Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, clears the way for Starlink’s entry into India’s expanding digital market. The approval, which comes as India celebrates the 30th anniversary of its first cellular phone call made on July 31, 1995, also enables spectrum allocation and the establishment of necessary infrastructure such as ground stations and gateways.

Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, first applied for permission to operate in India in 2021. However, the company faced delays due to regulatory concerns and uncertainty around spectrum allocation. The recent approval follows prolonged engagement with Indian authorities and represents a significant step in expanding internet access, especially in underserved and remote regions.

Starlink is entering a market with rising competition, notably from Eutelsat OneWeb (backed by the Bharti Group) and Reliance Jio's joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES. All these companies are focused on deploying satellite internet services using low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, promising high-speed, low-latency broadband connectivity across rural and urban landscapes.

Minister Scindia used the occasion to spotlight India’s broader digital transformation under the Narendra Modi government. Over the last ten years, the country has experienced explosive growth in telecom and internet penetration. The number of telephone connections has surpassed 1.2 billion, while internet subscriptions have soared by 286%, reaching 970 million. Broadband usage alone has jumped from 60 million in 2014 to 944 million today — an increase of over 1,450%. Additionally, the cost of mobile data has plummeted by nearly 97%, making India one of the most affordable countries for internet access at Rs 8.9 per GB.

The minister also praised the turnaround of state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). After years of financial losses, BSNL has reported net profits of Rs 262 crore and Rs 280 crore in the last two fiscal years, driven in part by the deployment of over 83,000 4G sites, most of which are now operational with indigenous technology.

Scindia further emphasized India’s leadership in next-gen connectivity, citing the fast rollout of 5G. Currently, 99.6% of districts in India are covered with over 4.74 lakh 5G towers and a user base of 300 million. India also ranks among the top six countries in 6G patent filings and leads globally in per capita 5G data usage, averaging 32 GB per month.

Starlink’s satellite internet model is particularly promising for bridging the digital divide in India, connecting hard-to-reach locations such as border areas, islands, and mountainous regions that remain underserved by traditional fiber and cellular infrastructure.

With regulatory clarity now achieved and infrastructure development underway, India’s satellite communication sector is poised for rapid growth. Starlink’s entry marks a new chapter in India’s digital journey, supporting the country’s ambition to ensure connectivity even in its most remote corners — truly making space the next frontier for digital inclusion.