NEW DELHI (AP) – India has granted Elon Musk’s Starlink an important license, bringing satellite service providers closer to offering commercial internet in the country, a senior government official disclosed on Friday.
“Yes, it’s licensed,” confirmed the official, who has insider knowledge from the Ministry of Telecommunications, but wished to remain unnamed as the information has not been made public.
The approval comes at a time when Musk is entangled in Public Pud, alongside US President Donald Trump, threatening the value of billions in contract agreements between Starlink and the US government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Musk met in the US in February, where they discussed the company’s long-planned intentions for India.
In March, Starlink entered into Contracts with the leading two Indian carriers – Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel – bringing services from the US satellite internet giant to the world’s most populous nation.
More than 40% of India’s over 1.4 billion citizens lack internet access. Affordable satellite broadband is crucial to bridging this divide, particularly in the expansive remote and mountainous areas of the country.
The Telecommunications Bureau has recently approved a similar license for Reliance Jio, the largest telecommunications provider in the country, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
The next phase for Musk’s company involves securing individual approvals from Indian space regulators and obtaining authorization for the radio frequencies used for communication from the government, a process that may require several months.
Additionally, the company must demonstrate compliance through testing to meet local security regulations agreed upon while acquiring the license.
However, one of the most significant hurdles for Musk’s companies will be pricing, as India’s mobile data rates are among the lowest globally. Ambani’s Jio previously offered mobile plans at no cost.
Starlink currently operates the largest satellite constellation worldwide, with over 6,750 satellites aimed at providing low-latency broadband to regions previously devoid of internet connectivity.
Source: apnews.com