Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite broadband service is on the verge of launching in India, although regulatory hurdles remain. After months of delays, SpaceX has filed the necessary paperwork with Indian authorities. The application is currently under review by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center—a body that operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Space Department. Until the government grants the mandatory Department of Telecommunications (DoT) license, Starlink cannot officially begin operations in India.
While Starlink already serves over 100 countries, including a recent rollout in Bhutan, its arrival in India has been stalled by security concerns. In Bhutan, the service offers two plans: a Residential Lite option providing speeds between 23 Mbps and 100 Mbps for around Nu 3,000 per month, and a Standard Residential plan with speeds from 25 Mbps to 110 Mbps and unlimited data for approximately Nu 4,200 monthly. These offerings target users in remote areas where traditional internet infrastructure is lacking.
In India, however, the situation is more complex. Authorities have confiscated Starlink equipment in areas like Manipur and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands amid fears that the devices are being misused by militants and smugglers. In response, Elon Musk has stated that Starlink’s satellite beams over India remain “turned off” and that the service has never been active there. These incidents have intensified scrutiny of the company’s application, as Indian security agencies remain cautious about the potential for unauthorized internet access during periods of government-imposed shutdowns.
Despite ongoing discussions—including high-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Elon Musk—Starlink’s future in India hinges on resolving these regulatory and security concerns. Only once SpaceX secures the required approvals and DoT license will the service be able to extend its high-speed satellite internet to one of the world’s largest and most remote markets.
