The Union Minister has confirmed that Starlink may soon begin offering its satellite internet services in India. What challenges still lie ahead for Starlink, and which companies will it compete with once it launches? Let’s find out.
Starlink, the satellite internet provider, has been trying to enter the Indian market for quite some time. Now, it seems the company is finally nearing its goal. Recently, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed that Starlink is close to launching its services in India. This makes it clear that only a few steps remain before the official rollout.
Following the Letter of Intent, Starlink is now waiting for a GMPCS license. Once that is granted, the company will need final clearance from IN-SPACe. After receiving the required approvals, Starlink will be ready to start operations in the country.
These Two Companies Are Already in the Race
Before Starlink, OneWeb and Reliance had already secured licenses for satellite connectivity in India. With services already available in over 100 countries, Starlink aims to provide fast, low-latency broadband to areas where traditional internet infrastructure is unavailable.
Very little time remains before Starlink gets the green light from IN-SPACe and completes its approval process. Meanwhile, Amazon is also actively pursuing licenses and approvals to launch its satellite internet service in India under Project Kuiper.
Starlink Plans and Pricing in India
According to a report by The Economic Times, Starlink’s unlimited data plans in India will start at $10 (around ₹840) under a promotional offer. Whether this low-cost strategy will work in India remains to be seen. However, if successful, other satellite internet providers may also be compelled to offer more affordable plans.
People living in remote areas of India, where connectivity is still a challenge, are expected to benefit greatly from the arrival of satellite internet services like Starlink.