Starlink has taken a step toward launching satellite broadband services in India after securing provisional spectrum for trials, according to sources. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has said the company will set up ground infrastructure at 10 sites across the country, with Mumbai as its main hub. Starlink will also need to build landing stations that link satellites to terrestrial networks and prove compliance with Indian security norms before moving ahead with commercial operations.
The final spectrum allocation is still under review, with the Digital Communications Commission expected to decide on pricing and conditions. Once its recommendations are forwarded to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), companies will be able to formally launch services.
Further, Starlink’s monthly charges in India will be far lower than in neighbouring countries, where users currently pay around Rs 3,000 per month plus a Rs 30,000 installation fee. With India’s larger market, tariffs are expected to be about one-third of that level.
