Elon Musk’s Starlink has taken a big step forward in India by getting a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to start offering satellite internet in the country. Government sources say Starlink agreed to meet strict licensing rules and updated national security requirements. This clears the way for licenses to operate as a satellite communication provider (GMPCS), a small satellite terminal operator (VSAT), and an internet service provider (ISP).
A senior official said the LoI was given after Starlink promised to follow all licensing and security rules. The company will get its final license once it fully meets all the conditions.
With this approval, Starlink can now start demoing its services in India—similar to what OneWeb is doing in the defense sector. Approval from the Indian space agency IN-SPACe is also expected soon.
Meanwhile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper is still waiting for its LoI. Its application is currently under review by the DOT.
Starlink’s approval follows a key meeting on April 16 with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Starlink executives, including Parnil Urdhwareshe (India market access director), Chad Gibbs (VP), and Ryan Goodnight (senior director). They discussed the company’s expansion in India and ways to speed up approvals.
This LoI comes after India tightened rules for satellite internet providers. New rules include storing data locally, allowing government access to data if needed, securing satellite gateways, and encouraging local manufacturing—all aimed at protecting national interests.
Starlink now joins licensed players like OneWeb, Eutelsat, and the Jio-SES partnership. Having applied for its GMPCS license back in 2022, Starlink will now focus on building ground stations, which are crucial to connect satellites with local internet networks.
Globally, Starlink has the largest satellite network, with more than 6,750 satellites providing fast internet with low delays. In India, Starlink has partnered with telecom giants Reliance Jio and Airtel. These companies will help distribute Starlink’s services through stores and online platforms, handle installation and setup, and stock equipment—especially for rural and remote areas.
This move from competition to teamwork in the satellite internet space marks a big shift in India’s digital growth plans.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to soon announce pricing guidelines for satellite spectrum, which will be key for Starlink’s commercial launch.
Still, some experts are unsure about Starlink’s short-term success in India because its prices are 10 to 14 times higher than Jio and Airtel’s. That makes it more appealing to small businesses and niche users rather than the general public—unless the government steps in with subsidies.
On May 6, Communications Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani tried to calm concerns. He said Starlink’s role is to complement existing networks, not replace them. “It’s mostly for areas where regular networks don’t reach, and it’s meant for indoor use—not on the go,” he said. He also pointed out that Starlink’s global user base is still under 5 million.
Meanwhile, companies like OneWeb are urging the DoT to speed up spectrum approvals. On April 21, the Broadband India Forum (BIF)—which represents companies like OneWeb, Kuiper, Hughes, Google, and Meta—sent a letter warning that delays are causing satellite resources to go unused, putting financial pressure on providers and missing chances to connect remote areas.
The BIF also said some companies have had licenses and space approvals for over three years but can’t move forward because they’re still waiting on spectrum. They say faster approvals are needed to support national goals and make better use of resources, all without cutting into government revenue.
