Starlink Inches Closer To India Entry, Gets Initial Nod To Offer Satcom Services

Inching closer to its India entry, Elon Musk-led satellite communications (satcom) operator Starlink has reportedly received a letter of intent (LoI) from the telecommunications department (DoT) to offer services in the country.

Sources told Economic Times that the initial approval was granted after Starlink agreed to comply with the Centre’s new national security guidelines, issued earlier this week, for satcom operators. “They have accepted the security terms,” an official was quoted as saying.

This follows the DoT, earlier this week, announcing 29 additional requirements, including mandatory interception and monitoring mechanisms, use of local data centres, location tracking for mobile user terminals, localisation mandates, among others, for existing and potential satcom licensees.

As per the report, Starlink, during consultations, had expressed reluctance on two issues – the mandate to monitor terminals near international borders and the requirement of a mandatory Indian majority shareholding in satcom operators seeking licences.

However, the government is said to have skipped those demands as it infringed upon the then Telegraph Act, 1885. “While the condition (monitoring terminal) was proposed by law enforcement agencies, the DoT felt it can’t be included as it goes against the Telegraph Act,” added a source.

On the second demand, the DoT reportedly internally agreed that existing policy allows 100% FDI, which led to the dropping of demand for majority Indian shareholding.

Meanwhile, the approval could pit Starlink ahead of homegrown rivals like Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES in launching mobile satcom services in the country.

“Starlink will likely offer mobility services along with the GMPCS licence,” while other firms will need to seek additional approvals, a source reportedly added. It is pertinent to note that Jio-SES and Eutelsat OneWeb already have authorisation to offer only fixed satcom services in the country.

Starlink will now have to seek approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) before moving further. As per the report, the Elon Musk-led company has already submitted the necessary documents for the same. On top of this, Starlink will also need to be allocated spectrum.

It is pertinent to note that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to soon recommend pricing for administrative allocation.

This comes at a time when a host of global players, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper and Apple partner . On the other hand, the likes of Eutelstat OneWeb and Jio-SES, despite having initial approvals, are waiting for spectrum allocation to commence operations.

Notably, and Airtel to offer satcom services to its customers in the country.

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