Starlink Gets Approval to Launch in India
Elon Musk's Starlink has crossed a big milestone to start operations in India. The Department of Telecommunications has issued the company the necessary approvals. Other satellite internet operators such as Bharti Airtel's OneWeb and Reliance Jio already possess such approvals.
With this development, there is increasing debate regarding Starlink's price in India. As per a CNBC-18 report, Starlink hardware (the satellite receiver) could be priced at approximately ₹33,000. The monthly fee is likely to begin at ₹3,000. This is what the company charges presently in neighboring markets such as Bangladesh.
How Starlink Ranks Relative to Fiber Broadband
Presently, Jio, Airtel, and BSNL provide broadband services in cities and smaller towns. They usually provide free installation. They provide unlimited data at 100 Mbps speeds, typically for less than ₹1,000 a month. Additional benefits such as OTT content and TV packs are included.
While Starlink's costs are much higher, it has the benefit of reaching areas where telecommunication networks cannot—remote villages and mountainous terrain. Starlink employs Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, roughly 550 kilometers above the earth. It currently operates approximately 7,000 satellites and plans to have 40,000 in the long run.
Spectrum and Service Launch Timeline
While firms hold licenses, commercial assignment of spectrum for satellite communication (satcom) still remains pending. TRAI has made recommendations on the price and conditions of spectrum to the government.
Service providers can only proceed after receiving final policy guidelines and spectrum assignments. In addition, they must obtain approvals from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). After that, they need to build the required infrastructure. The entire process is likely to take up to one more year before Starlink and similar satellite internet services can launch commercially in India.
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