After passing regulatory checks and tests, billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink is expected to receive a license to operate in India shortly. Starlink will aim to expand and widespread connectivity across India, particularly in remote and rural areas.
Elon Musk’s Starlink will soon clarify its shareholding pattern to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, following which it will receive an operating certificate from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
After that, the DoT will send the letter of intent to Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw and Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal for their approval. The Satellite Communications Wing will then grant permission to Starlink.
Starlink speed and expected price in India
Based on its global use, Starlink usually provides download speeds of between 25 and 220 Mbps, with upload speeds ranging from 5 to 20 Mbps. According to the Starlink website, the majority of users receive download speeds of 100 Mbps or more.
Starlink has not yet released an official statement on its pricing plan in India, but Moneycontrol reported that the price of the service in the first year might be around ₹1,58,000, as per the company’s former India head. Starlink’s one-time equipment purchase will likely result in a second-year cost of ₹1,15,000 plus 30% tax.
According to Moneycontrol, the user equipment will likely cost ₹37,400, with a monthly service fee of ₹7,425. Starlink’s exact pricing will be known only if the service receives its license.