Context:
IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) has officially granted a five-year licence to Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (SSCPL)—a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX—to provide space-based internet services in India.
- The authorisation enables the company to offer broadband services using its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Starlink Gen1 satellite constellation. The licence is valid for a period of five years from July 8, 2025, or until the end of the Starlink Gen1 constellation’s operational life, whichever comes earlier.
About Starlink Gen1 Constellation:
The Starlink Gen1 constellation consists of 4,408 operational satellites, deployed in LEO orbits at altitudes between 540 km and 570 km.
· This network is designed to deliver high-throughput broadband services, with a cumulative capacity of up to 600 Gbps over the Indian regions. The system supports low-latency connectivity, which is especially beneficial for underserved and remote locations.
· Starlink has been actively pursuing the Indian market since 2022, but progress had been delayed due to regulatory and security hurdles.
· In June 2025, Starlink became the third company to receive a satellite communication (satcom) licence from the DoT, following Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications.
Regulatory Conditions and Spectrum Allocation:
While the licence from IN-SPACe is a significant step forward, commercial rollout remains contingent on the allocation of spectrum for satcom services.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently submitted its recommendations on pricing, auction methodology, and licensing terms for satellite spectrum. The final decision now lies with the DoT.
In addition, the DoT has stipulated enhanced security conditions for foreign satellite operators, which include:
- Restrictions on cross-border use of Indian-registered satellite connections.
- Compliance with Indian data sovereignty rules.
- Ground station and gateway localisation requirements.
- National security clearance from relevant intelligence agencies.
Target Market, Pricing & Regional Presence:
Starlink’s services are expected to target rural, remote, and geographically challenging regions of India, where conventional fibre or mobile networks are unreliable or unavailable. This supports the Government of India’s Digital India initiative and the push for universal internet access, particularly for remote government offices, schools, and health centres.
Estimated consumer pricing is as follows (exclusive of taxes and government levies):
- Hardware (Dish and Modem): ₹60,000 (one-time)
- Monthly Service Fee: ₹3,500
Starlink is already operational or approved in neighbouring South Asian countries including Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka (approval granted in July 2025), giving it a growing footprint across the region.
About IN–SPACe:
- Full Name: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre
- Formed: 24 June 2020
- Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
- Function: IN–SPACe serves as a single-window autonomous agency under the Department of Space, responsible for promoting, authorising, and supervising private sector participation in the Indian space ecosystem.
- IN-SPACe aims to facilitate commercial space activities by Indian and foreign entities while ensuring adherence to national security and space policy guidelines.
