The Indian government is expediting the process of granting a license to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite unit before his upcoming visit to the country. Starlink, a satellite internet service provided by Musk’s SpaceX, promises high-speed internet connections. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is set to issue a letter of intent (LoI) and trial spectrum to Starlink for satellite communication services, as reported by Moneycontrol.
The DoT is currently engaged in inter-ministerial discussions due to security concerns. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, is scheduled to visit India on April 21 and 22, during which he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other government officials.
In order to conduct a pilot of its services in the retail consumer space, Starlink requires global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) and a trial spectrum. However, the company also needs permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and other security agencies, as the Indian government has expressed security concerns.
Earlier, Starlink provided clarification on its shareholding pattern to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), citing US regulations as the reason for not disclosing all ownership details. The company assured that it does not have investors from countries sharing land borders with India.
In November 2022, Starlink began the process of applying for the GMPCS license after facing issues with the Indian government for accepting pre-orders for its terminals.
Competing with Starlink in the Indian market are companies like Eutelsat OneWeb, Jio Satellite Communications, and Amazon. Eutelsat OneWeb is the only satellite communication player currently authorized by the India National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
This move to expedite the licensing process indicates India’s increasing interest in satellite internet services and its willingness to engage with global players like Starlink to enhance connectivity nationwide. simplyfy this more accurate
