Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar announced that Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet will be allowed to serve up to two million users in India, offering speeds up to 200 Mbps.
Addressing concerns about competition with local telecom firms, the Minister said Starlink’s limited user base and high prices mean it won’t threaten BSNL or private operators.
Starlink and other satellite services will mainly focus on rural and remote areas where BSNL already has a strong presence.
Starlink Gets Final Approval; BSNL Focuses on Affordable Growth
The minister highlighted that satellite internet will be expensive, with monthly fees expected around ₹3,000.
BSNL, having completed its 4G rollout, plans to keep its tariffs steady as it works to grow its market share.
Starlink received its final clearance from India’s space regulator IN-SPACe recently, after telecom ministry approval last month.
This makes Starlink the third satellite internet provider in India, joining OneWeb (Eutelsat) and Reliance Jio’s satellite unit.
Starlink Partners With Jio and Airtel; Pricing Details
Though licensed for five years, Starlink still needs to get spectrum licenses, build ground infrastructure, and clear security checks.
Its equipment kits in India are expected to cost about ₹33,000, with monthly fees between ₹3,000 and ₹4,200 — similar to prices in Bangladesh and Bhutan.
To reach customers, Starlink has partnered with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. These partnerships, formed in April, will help Starlink serve India’s underserved regions.
Summary
Starlink is approved to operate in India with a 2 million user limit and up to 200 Mbps speed.
It will focus on rural markets with high-cost services distributed via Airtel and Jio. Full operations depend on spectrum allocation, infrastructure setup, and security approvals.
