Elon Musk’s Starlink to Enter India: Set to Receive Licence for Satellite Internet Services After OneWeb & Reliance Jio

 

In a major development for India’s digital and telecom landscape, Elon Musk’s Starlink is all set to receive a long-awaited satellite communications licence from the Indian government. After months of regulatory delays and back-and-forth, sources confirm that Starlink will join the likes of OneWeb (backed by Bharti Group) and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm (Jio Space Technology) in the race to offer satellite-based broadband services in India.

 

🚀 What Does This Mean for India?

 

Wider Internet Reach: Starlink’s entry could significantly boost internet penetration in rural and remote regions, especially in the Northeast, Himalayas, and tribal areas where fiber and mobile networks struggle.

 

Faster Rollout: With its constellation of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Starlink can provide high-speed, low-latency internet far quicker than terrestrial infrastructure allows.

 

Increased Competition: OneWeb and Jio will now face stiff competition from Starlink, known globally for its advanced satellite technology and rapidly expanding footprint.

 

📡 Starlink’s Journey in India

 

Starlink began taking pre-orders in India back in 2021, collecting deposits from thousands of interested users.

 

However, due to licensing issues and national security concerns, the government asked Starlink to refund pre-bookings until formal approvals were in place.

 

With the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) now reportedly ready to grant the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, the wait could finally be over.

 

🏁 Who Else is in the Race?

 

OneWeb: Backed by Bharti Group and Eutelsat, already has licence and launched many satellites.

 

Jio SpaceTech: A Reliance Jio-SES joint venture, secured permission earlier this year and plans to roll out services soon.

 

Amazon’s Project Kuiper is also expected to enter India eventually, making this a multi-player space race.

 

🇮🇳 Strategic Implications

 

The Indian government’s push for “Digital India” and connectivity-for-all could get a significant boost.

 

Satellite broadband will be key for disaster recovery, defence, education, telemedicine, and more.

 

But with global players entering, data sovereignty, pricing models, and fair competition will remain hot-button issues.

 

🔚 Final Word

 

Starlink’s likely entry marks a new era of connectivity in India — one where the sky is no longer the limit. With global tech giants betting big on India’s untapped digital potential, the satellite broadband sector is poised for rapid evolution.

 

📢 What’s your take? Will Starlink revolutionize rural internet in India? Share your thoughts in the comments!