Starlink to soon disrupt indian telecommunication landscape.

India’s satellite broadband space is heating up as Starlink, the global satcom giant, officially secures its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence. With this milestone, Starlink joins Eutelsat OneWeb (backed by Airtel) and Jio Satellite Communications Ltd in a highly competitive race to revolutionize connectivity across India.



Starlink’s Expansion & Market Impact

With its presence in over 125 countries, Starlink is now gearing up to launch its subscriptions in India, allowing users to register for the service soon. Interestingly, despite ongoing disagreements over spectrum allocation policies, Airtel and Jio recently partnered with SpaceX to distribute Starlink’s equipment and services in their own retail stores—an unexpected collaboration in an otherwise divided industry.

Spectrum Pricing Debate Heats Up

While Starlink moves forward, traditional telecom giants remain skeptical. Airtel and Jio have strongly opposed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai) recommendation of spectrum allocation to satellite broadband firms at 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR)—a significantly lower rate than terrestrial telecom players. They argue this disrupts fair competition, but both Trai and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have dismissed the concerns.

Regulatory Hurdles & Security Concerns

Starlink’s licence comes one month after its letter of intent (LoI) was issued, allowing the company to apply for trial spectrum within 15–20 days. However, it remains unclear whether it has received final clearance from India’s space regulatory body, IN-SPACE.

Starlink had faced delays since 2022 due to ownership disclosure issues, alongside tensions over Indian government requirements, such as mandatory call data access for security agencies and the ability to suspend services in crisis situations. While stricter security regulations were introduced last month, Starlink assured compliance, leading to its approval.

The Growing Satcom Landscape

India isn’t the only country integrating Starlink’s satellite connectivity—neighboring nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan have already granted approvals, making the subcontinent a hotspot for Starlink’s expansion.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper remains the only major satellite broadband contender still awaiting government clearance—setting the stage for an even bigger showdown in India's satcom sector.

Looking Ahead

With over 7,600 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, Starlink is poised to disrupt India’s internet landscape. As debates over spectrum pricing and security regulations continue, one thing is clear: satellite broadband is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s happening now.

📢 What’s your take on Starlink’s entry into India? Will it reshape broadband access, or will regulatory hurdles slow progress? Let’s discuss! 👇