Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, Starlink, has received a major regulatory green light from the Indian government, allowing it to move one step closer to launching its services in the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted Starlink the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, enabling the company to legally operate satellite-based internet services in India.

Third satellite internet player in India

With this approval, Starlink becomes the third player in India’s emerging satellite internet market, following Bharti Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm. The move signals India’s growing emphasis on next-generation communication technologies, especially to boost digital access in rural and remote regions.

The development was officially confirmed by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who stated, “Subsequently, spectrum allocation will take place, after which satellite telecom services will be fully operational in the country at a rapid pace. I am sure the customer base in India will grow substantially.”

Starlink’s rocky journey in India

Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, had previously tried to enter the Indian market in 2021, collecting pre-orders from thousands of interested customers. However, due to the lack of regulatory approvals at the time, the company was forced to halt operations and refund all pre-bookings.

The new GMPCS licence now clears the path for Starlink to legitimately resume its expansion plans, bringing back one of the most ambitious global internet initiatives to a rapidly digitising Indian market.

What is GMPCS and why it matters

The GMPCS licence allows satellite-based service providers to offer voice and data communication services using low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. Such systems can deliver high-speed, low-latency internet access, even in geographically isolated or difficult terrain, making them ideal for India’s hilly regions, forests, deserts, and offshore zones.

With this approval, Starlink will be able to begin infrastructure planning, ground station installation, and work toward gaining spectrum allotment, which is the final technical step required to start commercial services.

Bridging India’s digital divide

Communications Minister Scindia emphasised the importance of satellite internet in bridging India’s digital divide, noting that traditional methods like fixed-line broadband or mobile towers cannot easily reach every part of the country.

“Earlier, there was only fixed line. Today, there is mobile connectivity, broadband, and optical fibre. Along with these, satellite connectivity is also very important,” said Scindia, reinforcing the government’s commitment to an inclusive digital infrastructure.

This is expected to significantly benefit areas where conventional telecom infrastructure is either unavailable or economically unviable. The availability of broadband-from-space could be a game-changer for education, healthcare, agriculture, and disaster response in underserved regions.

India’s satellite race heats up

With the GMPCS licence now in hand, Starlink re-enters the Indian satellite race, which also includes heavyweights like:

• OneWeb, backed by Bharti Airtel and Eutelsat, which already has a limited set of services and government clearances.

• Reliance Jio Satellite Communications, which is also on track to roll out pan-India satellite internet.

• Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which has yet to receive any formal approvals in India.

India is thus shaping up to be one of the most competitive satellite broadband markets in the world, offering huge potential due to its large rural population and growing demand for high-speed connectivity.

What’s next for Starlink India

While the GMPCS licence is a major milestone, Starlink still awaits spectrum allocation, which is likely to follow soon. Once that is done, the company can begin offering services at scale, starting with select rural or enterprise clients and gradually expanding across regions.

The company is expected to relaunch pre-orders and begin local partnerships for ground station operations, equipment distribution, and customer service.

As India moves ahead with its Digital India initiative, the addition of global satellite players like Starlink could help ensure no citizen is left behind, regardless of their location.

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