SpaceX’s Starlink Set for Early 2026 Launch in India After Regulatory Clearance
Starlink: Elon Musk's company Starlink has begun security trials ahead of the launch of its satellite internet service in India. This move is considered one of the final steps before the company's commercial launch in India.
Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk's SpaceX, has commenced security testing prior to the launch of its satellite broadband service in India. As reported by the media, the process falls under the security clearance of both foreign and local telecom operators in India.
But Starlink is waiting for the final pricing guidelines from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). If TRAI comes out with guidelines on the pricing of satellite services in this year-end, the company may start offering internet services to Indian consumers by early 2026.
India's satellite communications sector is growing rapidly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government opened the space sector to private companies. The government wants the satellite network to deliver internet to areas where fiber or mobile network access is limited.
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According to reports, SpaceX is setting up at least 10 satellite gateways in India, three times the number of its competitors, Reliance Jio Space Fiber and OneWeb. The company has already built three ground stations in Mumbai, which will be Starlink's main operations center in India. Inspections of these sites will soon begin by officials.
Earlier this year, Indian regulators approved Starlink to launch satellite broadband services and allocated specific frequency bands. This approval is considered a major breakthrough for the American company, which has long been trying to gain a foothold in India's vast internet market. Starlink's entry into India will help SpaceX fill the void left by its exclusion from China, where foreign telecom operators are still not permitted.
The company believes its low-Earth orbit satellite technology can bring internet access to millions of people in India who still lack reliable high-speed broadband, especially in rural areas. Starlink hopes to leverage Elon Musk's name and tech reputation to quickly gain popularity among India's urban and tech-savvy consumers, who are willing to pay a premium for better and faster internet.
