Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, has obtained a license from India’s Department of Telecommunications, according to sources.

This approval allows Starlink to begin commercial operations in India.

Starlink is the third company to receive such a license in the country, after Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio.

This development enables Starlink to enter the expanding satellite internet services market in the region.

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🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ India’s satellite policy journey: From restrictive to responsive

India’s approach to satellite communications has evolved dramatically since its initial 1997 policy, which was just a two-page document emphasizing the use of Indian satellites through the INSAT network 1.

The establishment of TRAI that same year marked the beginning of a gradual shift toward more competitive telecommunications markets, though satellite services remained tightly controlled for decades 2.

This restrictive approach stemmed from national security concerns, highlighted by the 2011 Mumbai terror attacks that led to strict regulations on satellite phones—unauthorized possession could even lead to detention or arrest 3.

The current approval for Starlink represents a significant policy evolution, with India now having licensed three satellite broadband providers including OneWeb and Reliance Jio, signaling a more open approach to foreign satellite operators 4.

Recent TRAI recommendations for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum (rather than auctions) further demonstrate this regulatory shift toward facilitating satellite internet deployment while maintaining security through measures like mandatory user terminal registration and local data centers 5, 6.

2️⃣ The competitive landscape reshaping India’s connectivity future

Starlink enters a market where established telecom players like Jio and Airtel are already forming strategic partnerships with satellite operators—Jio with SES and Airtel with OneWeb—to capture the emerging satellite internet sector 7.

Technical capabilities create significant competitive differences: Starlink is expected to provide 80-90 times more capacity than rivals like Jio-SES and Eutelsat OneWeb, potentially disrupting the market with superior performance 8, 9.

The competition reveals a fundamental tension in India’s digital development strategy between leveraging advanced foreign technology (Starlink) and promoting domestic champions (Jio), with some advocating for a hybrid approach that combines Starlink’s technological edge with local expertise 10.

This satellite internet market is projected to generate approximately $1 billion in revenue in India, explaining the intense competition among domestic and international players to secure licenses and spectrum allocations 11.

Traditional telecom operators have expressed concerns about potential regulatory advantages for satellite services, particularly regarding spectrum allocation methods and pricing structures, highlighting the disruption Starlink’s entry could bring to the established market 12.

Recent Starlink developments

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