Elon Musk’s Starlink has got a license for satellite communication (satcom) services in India, according to PTI report citing sources. Starlink is the third company to get a license from the Department of Telecommunications. This approval represents a major milestone for the satellite service provider, moving it closer to launching commercial operations in India.
Sources added in the report that Starlink has received the license. They will be provided test spectrum within 15-20 days of applying for it.
With this license, Starlink becomes the third company to receive authorization from the Department of Telecommunications, following earlier approvals granted to Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio to offer their services in India.
Starlink has been awaiting commercial operating licenses in India since 2022, but the process has been delayed due to factors such as national security concerns. Amazon’s Kuiper project is also still pending approval for its India license.
In recent months, Elon Musk’s company has been at odds with Mukesh Ambani’s Jio over the method of allocating spectrum for satellite services. The Indian government has supported Musk’s stance, favoring spectrum allocation over auction.
Jyotiraditya Scindia’s Comment On Starlink
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Thursday that Elon Musk’s Starlink has been approved as the third satellite internet service provider in India. The Department of Telecommunications had earlier granted licences to Bharti’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio, as confirmed by the minister during a press briefing.
The minister noted that spectrum allocation will follow the licensing process, stating, “And after this, the government will provide the spectrum. Subsequently, satellite telecom services will be fully operational in the country at a rapid pace. I am sure the customer base in India will grow substantially.”
He also highlighted the importance of Starlink’s entry, calling its satellite connectivity “a significant addition to the country’s telecommunications services,” and emphasized its role in advancing India’s telecom landscape.
