Before You Get Excited About Starlink in India, Read This...

Image Credit: Starlink

Starlink, the satellite internet service by Elon Musk, is facing fresh hurdles before it can fully launch in India. The Indian government has come up with some new restrictions. It has reportedly capped Starlink’s user base at 20 lakh connections across the country. And honestly, it feels like a balancing act. On one hand, the tech sounds promising. On the other hand, the government is clearly trying to protect its own telecom space and, of course, national security.

First off, there is a user cap. Starlink can only serve up to 2 million users in India. That sounds like a lot, but in a country this big? It is a limitation.

Along with that come the security rules. There are 30 of them, that is right. And they are not light rules either. Things like setting up local data centers, using India’s own navigation system called NavIC, and making sure they can block websites or hand over metadata when the authorities ask. Basically, Starlink needs to be fully controllable from within India.

Also, they are being told to build control centers inside the country. These centers would let the government shut down or restrict services in any sensitive region if it ever comes to that.

Read More: Musk’s Starlink All Set to Launch in India: Will It Be Affordable, and Who Will Be Impacted?

Now, why all this? Well, the domestic players like BSNL, Jio, and Airtel were obviously concerned. The government seems to be giving them some breathing room. These new Starlink conditions kind of level the playing field a bit. You could say it is a way to make sure the local telecom companies are not blindsided by a global tech giant swooping in.

Even though Starlink already got a GMPCS license, that alone is not enough. They now need to meet all these extra requirements to actually start offering services.

According to reports, Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will be permitted to offer internet speeds of up to 200 Mbps. The service is expected to primarily cater to users in rural and remote areas of India. The upfront cost of Starlink’s satellite setup will be high. Monthly charges for the service are likely to be around Rs 3,000, making it a costly option for most users.

Starlink has reportedly obtained IN-SPACe Approval from IN-SPACe to operate its Gen-1 satellite constellation in Indian Airspace. The licence is valid for 5 years, up to July 7, 2030.

In short, the government seems open to innovation, but not at the cost of control or fairness. It is being careful about how and when to let in something as disruptive as satellite internet.

My View: I feel Starlink could change internet access in rural India, but these rules show the government wants control before letting it grow. It looks like India is saying yes to new technology, but only on its own terms.

Read More: How I Wonder What You Dream; Starlink Moves Closer to India Launch