India grants licence to Musk’s Starlink
India has granted a license to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, a move hailed by the country’s communications minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, as opening India’s “next frontier of connectivity.”
The entry of Starlink, which provides high-speed internet access to remote locations using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, has already ignited considerable debate within India, touching on issues such as predatory pricing and the allocation of spectrum.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed he held a “productive meeting” with Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of Starlink owner SpaceX. Shotwell, in turn, “appreciated the license granted to Starlink, calling it a great start to the journey,” as relayed by the minister late Tuesday on the Musk-owned social media platform X.
This development follows announcements in March by two of India’s largest telecom service providers, Jio Platforms and its rival Bharti Airtel, detailing deals with SpaceX to offer Starlink internet to their respective customer bases.
However, a notable point of contention has emerged between SpaceX owner Elon Musk and Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, who owns Jio Platforms, regarding the method by which satellite spectrum should be awarded in India.
While Elon Musk’s current business interests in India are primarily limited to X, his electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla, is also reportedly preparing for its entry into the country’s market.
