Starlink Receives Approval from the Indian Government

• 09 Jun 2025
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After much anticipation, Elon Musk’s Starlink has received a key approval from the Government of India. The approval brings the internet company a step closer to launching its commercial operations in India. This green light from the government removes a significant obstacle that had previously kept the company in a state of uncertainty for nearly two years.

With this, Starlink becomes the third company to obtain such a licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and joins the ranks of Eutelsat-led OneWeb and Reliance-led Jio’s satellite division. This approval enables Starlink to begin preparing to deliver high-speed internet across India via its satellite network, as reported by Reuters.

Starlink had submitted its application for the licence in 2022 but the approval process faced delays due to concerns including India’s national security. Meanwhile, Amazon’s satellite venture Project Kuiper is still awaiting the go-ahead from Indian authorities.

There was also a recent disagreement between Starlink and Reliance Jio regarding how spectrum, the radio frequencies essential for satellite communication, should be allocated. Ambani's Jio pushed for an auction-based model, one that is similar to the model used for mobile networks. However, Musk's Starlink favored direct assignment without any bidding. The Indian government ultimately sided with the approach of Starlink rather than Jio.

This development is regarded as a major milestone. It could pave the way for affordable internet connectivity in India's remote/underserved regions and potentially transform the country’s internet domain.

Source: India Today