India Grants Starlink Licence to Operate, Clearing Last Hurdle for Commercial Satellite Internet Launch
India’s space regulator has granted Starlink a five-year licence to begin satellite internet services, clearing its final approval hurdle after a long wait since 2022.
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India's space regulator, IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre), has officially granted Starlink license to start commercial operations in the country.This decision is the final approval Elon Musk's business required after waiting till 2022 to enter the Indian market.
Starlink acquired a critical license from India's telecom ministry just last month, and this recent approval from IN-SPACe clears the way for the company to begin offering satellite-based internet services.The license will be active for five years, offering Starlink a significant opportunity to develop itself in one of the world's fastest-growing internet markets.
Starlink becomes the third business to be granted authorization to deliver satellite internet in India, following Eutelsat's OneWeb and Reliance Jio. The move opens the way for further competition and innovation in the satellite internet industry, particularly in underserved and remote regions where regular broadband fails to reach.
However, Starlink isn't fully working yet.The corporation must now obtain spectrum allocation from the government, build appropriate ground infrastructure, and pass several tests to verify compliance with Indian security regulations.
Interestingly, there was a gap previously between Musk's Starlink and Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio on how spectrum should be allocated. While Jio supported the auction model, the Indian government eventually agreed with Starlink’s view that spectrum for satellite internet should be assigned, not auctioned. This decision helped to clear the path for Starlink's licensing approval.
With Starlink's approval to operate, India will soon witness more internet connection in rural and isolated locations, potentially altering how people connect and consume digital services.This is a significant step forward in India's efforts to increase digital connectivity for all.
This article is based on information from Gadgets 360
