New Delhi: Donald Trump’s victory speech after his landslide victory in the US election was full of praise for SpaceX CEO and SpaceX boss Elon Musk. Describing Musk as an “amazing guy” and a “super genius”, the 78-year-old Republican leader mentioned SpaceX Starlink, a telecom giant known for its ability to provide internet connectivity to the farthest corners of the Earth using satellite constellation technology. The president-elect spoke about how Starlink proved to be a lifesaver after Hurricane Helene hit parts of the US earlier this year.
In India, Musk’s proximity to Trump and the US president’s high praise for the SpaceX founder has sparked a buzz – is Starlink coming here? Musk has been trying to enter the Indian space for quite some time now, but regulatory frameworks here have proved to be a hurdle. Recently the Indian government has announced plans to allocate satellite spectrum and Musk is likely to be backed by the Trump administration, so Starlink’s entry could be a matter of time.
What’s different about Starlink
Starlink uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed internet connectivity. Satellites beam internet data via radio signals. Ground stations transmit signals to the orbiting satellites and they transmit the data back to users. This form of internet service does not require overhead or underground wires stretching for miles. This may not make a huge difference in urban areas where traditional broadband internet is available and users have many options to choose from. Starlink performs better in remote areas where traditional services like optical fibre are not viable and hence not available. Starlink, launched in 2019, already has over 4 million users worldwide. In a country like India, such a service could prove to be a game-changer in tackling the digital divide.
Starlink enters India
Elon Musk has been trying to bring Starlink to the Indian market since 2021. SpaceX had even started inviting pre-orders, but the Centre intervened, asking the company to first fulfil regulatory requirements. “In order to provide satellite-based services in India, the requisite licence from the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India is required. It is hereby notified to the general public that the said company has not obtained any licence/authorisation to provide satellite-based internet services being booked on its website,” the government said. The government asked SpaceX to comply with the country’s regulatory framework.
However, a recent development has raised hopes. Last month, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had announced that spectrum for satellite services would be allocated administratively and the cost would be determined by the telecom regulator. Musk welcomed the announcement and said SpaceX will do its best to “serve the people of India with Starlink”.
Domestic players
If the government’s new stance makes it easier for global companies like Starlink to provide satellite internet in India, it will lead to tough competition with domestic companies, especially Mukesh Ambani’s Jio and Sunil Bharti Mittal’s Airtel.
Jio has insisted that the government should allocate spectrum through auction to provide a level playing field for all. Mittal has also said that satellite companies with urban ambitions should buy spectrum like telecom companies.
According to the report, Starlink has told regulator TRAI that Indian telecom companies are insisting on fair pricing for their systems and lobbying for increased rates for others. It argues that domestic companies have their own business model in mind, not the interests of underprivileged communities.
However, Indian telcos argue that the rural connectivity issue is used by global companies to get favourable terms for spectrum and they will soon push to expand in urban areas, leading to direct competition with local service providers.
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