According to a report from The Economic Times (ET), Starlink has taken a significant step forward in its plans to establish satellite-based internet connectivity in India by submitting an application to the Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) for the establishment of earth stations.
While Starlink progresses with its ambitions, it will face competition from rivals such as OneWeb, a Bharti Group company, Amazon, and Reliance Jio's satcom.
Previously, Starlink, based in the United States, had applied to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to obtain a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) license. As per officials familiar with the matter, the government is currently conducting a security check for Starlink's GMPCS license, and it is anticipated that the necessary clearances will be granted within a couple of months, as reported by ICCBizNews.
According to an official quoted by ICCBizNews, Starlink has applied to IN-SPACe and their GMPCS application is currently being processed.
Under the latest Space Policy 2023 in India, foreign companies are now permitted to establish infrastructure and provide satellite services, but they must obtain approval from IN-SPACe. This policy designates IN-SPACe as the sole agency responsible for authorizing space activities for both government and private satellite communication (satcom) players, as mentioned in the ET report.
Once Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, secures the necessary approvals, it will still need to wait for spectrum allocation from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). OneWeb, Starlink's primary competitor, has already obtained all the required approvals but is also awaiting spectrum allocation. Additionally, Reliance Jio's satellite division has obtained a GMPCS license from the DoT.
Competition in this sector is intensifying as companies strive to gain the advantage of being the first mover. Although the satellite communications market in India is still developing, experts believe it holds significant potential, particularly for remote and rural areas.
.jpg)
