India has officially granted Elon Musk’s Starlink a Unified Licence to provide satellite-based internet services in the country, marking a major milestone in enhancing digital connectivity, especially in rural and underserved areas. The announcement was made by Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on July 31, 2025, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of India’s first mobile phone call. Scindia confirmed that the frameworks for spectrum allocation and gateway infrastructure are already in place, paving the way for Starlink’s operations once spectrum allotment is finalised.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had approved Starlink’s application earlier in July after several regulatory delays since 2021. Although the licence has now been issued, Starlink cannot begin operations until the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) finalises the guidelines for satellite spectrum usage. Once operational, Starlink aims to provide high-speed internet in areas with limited or no access to traditional broadband infrastructure.
According to reports, Starlink will charge users a one-time fee of ₹33,000 for a hardware kit that includes a satellite dish, router, and mounting equipment. Monthly plans are expected to cost around ₹3,000 for unlimited data, with a possible entry-level promotional plan priced at ₹850. Internet speeds may range between 25 Mbps and 220 Mbps. The initial rollout will cap services at two million users across India, prioritising remote and rural regions.
Starlink enters a competitive market alongside global players such as Eutelsat, OneWeb, backed by the Bharti Group, and Reliance Jio’s joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES. Both of these competitors have also received operating approvals but await spectrum allocation before commercial rollout. The Indian government views satellite broadband as a vital solution to bridge the digital divide, especially in hilly and hard-to-reach areas where fibre-optic deployment is unfeasible.
Minister Scindia emphasised India’s digital transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, calling the past decade of telecom advancement extraordinary. With the licensing process now complete, the focus shifts to TRAI’s upcoming spectrum allocation, which will determine when Starlink can officially launch services and begin connecting India’s remotest corners to high-speed internet.
