Elon Musk’s Starlink has received a licence to provide satellite communication services in India, as confirmed by sources. This makes Starlink the third company to obtain such a licence from the Department of Telecom (DoT). 

According to DoT officials, Starlink has indeed been granted the licence, and they can expect to be allocated trial spectrum within 15 to 20 days after submitting their application.

The next step in the process is spectrum allocation, which will pave the way for large-scale service deployment. However, the Department of Telecommunications has yet to give the green light to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) recommendations regarding satellite communication spectrum. 

Furthermore, TRAI has suggested that the government provide subsidies to satellite operators to enhance connectivity in rural and remote areas. Recently, Starlink launched its services in Bangladesh, charging a monthly fee of Rs 3,000 along with a one-time hardware cost of Rs 33,000.

Starlink has been eyeing the Indian market since 2021. However, its initial efforts were put on hold, leading to the refund of pre-order payments due to regulatory obstacles. 

The recent approval signifies a renewed effort to tap into one of the world’s most promising satellite internet markets, while competing initiatives, like Amazon’s Project Kuiper, are still waiting for the green light.

Source: India TV News
--Agencies