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Starlink has become the latest entrant in India’s satellite communications market, as the Elon Musk-owned company received the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) permit from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), according to an Economic Times report.
Once spectrum is allocated, Starlink will need to demonstrate compliance with all requirements laid out by the Centre, including the stipulated security conditions.
Notably, the Musk-owned company has become the third major player that will offer commercial satellite communications services in India, after Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb and the Jio-SES joint venture.
Starlink’s India Journey Until Now And What’s Next
Starlink has had to navigate several hurdles in its journey to securing the satcom license from the DoT. For instance, the company’s executives met Union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in April this year.
The meeting reportedly involved senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, as well as key representatives from the Telecom Department, as Starlink presented its investment plans in India.
Subsequently, the company received a letter of intent from the DoT in May 2025, bringing it a step closer to obtaining the GMPCS permit.
Starlink must now obtain approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which is India’s space regulator.
Further, the American satcom company needs to demonstrate the compliance of all security conditions to facilitate the launch of commercial services in India.
Notably, in December 2024, the Indian Army recovered a purported Starlink device—along with weapons and ammunition—during search and rescue operations in Manipur.
In response, Musk stated via social media that the claim of terrorists using Starlink devices in India was a false narrative. He added that the company’s satellite beams were turned off over the country at that time.
In another incident, Starlink allegedly helped transport 6,000 kilograms of meth worth $4.25 billion from Myanmar to India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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Why It Matters
While Starlink has successfully obtained its GMPCS license from the DoT, it must tread carefully with regard to the security requirements.
Past instances of security concerns in India do not help the Musk-owned satcom company, and it needs to act swiftly and transparently if the 53-year-old entrepreneur hopes to launch Starlink’s services in India soon.
Moreover, the company should remain mindful that the DoT is in the process of finalising pricing and regulations for satcom spectrum allocation, based on recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
For context, TRAI had recommended administrative allocation of satcom spectrum, with a 4% fee based on a company’s adjusted gross revenue (AGR).
Companies offering services in urban areas would have to pay Rs 500 per subscriber annually, whereas no such charge would apply to rural users.
However, satcom companies won’t have to shell out any upfront charge or allocation price for satellite spectrum.
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