India's space regulator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), has granted Elon Musk's Starlink the authorization to launch its satellite internet services in India. This crucial approval, valid for five years, marks a significant step towards enhancing digital connectivity across the country, especially in remote and underserved areas.
IN-SPACe, an autonomous agency under the Department of Space (DoS), is responsible for promoting and authorizing space activities by private entities in India. The authorization allows Starlink Satellite Communications to provide services using its Starlink Gen1 constellation over Indian territory. This constellation comprises 4,408 satellites orbiting Earth at altitudes between 540 and 570 kilometers and is designed to deliver a throughput of approximately 600 Gbps over India.
With this clearance, Starlink joins Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES joint venture in obtaining the necessary approvals to launch satellite internet services in India. Amazon's Kuiper is also seeking to enter the Indian market and is awaiting government approval.
The IN-SPACe authorization is a part of India's broader initiative to liberalize its space sector and encourage private participation. It is expected to accelerate the deployment of next-generation communication infrastructure, bridging the digital divide and supporting the government's vision of a Digital India.
While this authorization is a major milestone, Starlink still needs to secure spectrum allocation and other clearances from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and other relevant bodies before commencing full-scale commercial operations. The DoT is expected to grant trial spectrum to Starlink for security compliance demonstrations. The company will also need to establish ground infrastructure to support its services.
The entry of Starlink into the Indian market is poised to transform connectivity for millions of Indians, particularly in regions where terrestrial internet infrastructure is limited or non-existent. Starlink's services are designed to provide seamless broadband access for households, businesses, schools, and emergency services, creating new opportunities for economic growth and social development.
