India has officially granted a licence to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, marking what the country’s communications minister described as the “next frontier of connectivity.”
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, delivers high-speed internet through a network of low Earth orbit satellites, enabling access in remote and underserved regions. However, its entry into the Indian market has stirred debate over key issues such as spectrum allocation and concerns about potential predatory pricing.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed the approval following a “productive meeting” with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX. Shotwell welcomed the development, calling it a “great start to the journey,” according to a post by Scindia on X, the social media platform owned by Musk.
The move comes shortly after Indian telecom giants Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel announced separate partnerships with SpaceX in March to offer Starlink internet services to their customers.
Despite the progress, tensions persist between Musk and Jio owner Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, particularly over how satellite spectrum should be allocated—through auction or administrative allocation.
While Musk’s presence in India is currently limited to X, his electric vehicle company Tesla is also preparing to enter the Indian market, signaling a broader push into one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.
