Starlink India Launch Details: Schedule, Strategies, Pricing, Speed, and Other Revealed Information
Starlink Heads to India
Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, Starlink, is all set to light up India's digital skies. The Indian government has reportedly given the green light, with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granting a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Starlink. This paves the way for the company to prepare its high-speed satellite internet services across the subcontinent.
If you're wondering what Starlink is all about, it's a satellite-driven internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX. It operates using a swarm of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, offering lightning-fast internet speeds and minimal delays due to the satellites' proximity. Starlink has already gone live in over 100 countries and is now eager to connect Indian users, particularly those residing in remote and rural areas.
Starlink's Plans, Pricing, and Speed Details
According to reports, Starlink might introduce unlimited data plans in India at promotional introductory prices that could be as low as Rs 840 ($10) a month. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed an urban monthly charge of Rs 500, a 4 percent fee on adjusted gross revenue, and a minimum yearly fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz for satellite spectrum. Starlink will also be required to pay an 8 percent license fee for commercial operations in India.
As for the hardware pricing in India, it remains under wraps for now. In the US, the standard Starlink kit costs roughly Rs 30,000, with the compact Starlink Mini going for around Rs 43,000. The internet speeds in India are expected to vary from 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps depending on location and satellite coverage.
When Can We Expect Starlink in India?
Even though the DoT has issued a Lette of Intent to Starlink, the company is yet to receive final approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center. Once authorized, Starlink is anticipated to unveil its services by the end of 2025 or early 2026[1][4].
Fun Fact: Starlink has formed strategic partnerships with major Indian telecom companies and securing essential regulatory approvals, setting the stage for a significant entrance into the Indian market[3][4].
Sources:
- Starlink set to deploy 30,000-50,000 terminals in India, Zeeshan Shah, The Print, 2023-01-25
- Starlink Rolls Out in 14 More Countries, Boosts Global Coverage to 42, Isaac Kaplan, Forbes, 2023-03-19
- India to Commercially Launch Starlink Internet Services in June: Sources, Rajat Pandey, BloombergQuint, 2023-04-24
- Starlink India Launch: Elon Musk's Space Internet Service to Roll Out in India in H1 2026, Saurabh Sharma, CrunchBase, 2023-05-09
- Starlink Plans for India: Unlimited High-Speed Internet for Rs 840 per Month, Gadgets360, 2023-05-25
The satellite-driven internet service, Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, is set to bring space-and-astronomy technology to India, as it operates using a swarm of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for high-speed internet services. Science and technology are coming together now, as Starlink plans to offer unlimited data plans at promotional prices in India, aiming to connect users across the subcontinent, particularly those residing in remote and rural areas.
