Elon Musk’s Starlink is edging closer to launching its satellite internet services in India after agreeing to meet key government security and data localization requirements. These rules mandate that all user data from satellite communications be stored within India and accessible to local intelligence agencies if needed. This compliance is a crucial step for obtaining the GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite) licence, which is required for Starlink to operate and begin trial services.
Starlink had initially applied for the GMPCS licence in October 2022. Following a series of meetings with India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the company has now agreed “in principle” to adhere to the regulations, bringing it one step closer to entering the Indian market. Additionally, Starlink is working closely with IN-SPACe, the Indian space regulator, for further approvals. IN-SPACe has requested more details from both Starlink and its competitor, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, before moving forward with the application process.
The final hurdles for Starlink include establishing rules around pricing and spectrum allocation for satellite broadband in India, which are expected to be clarified soon. The company’s progress comes amid discussions about Elon Musk’s potential involvement in the US administration, which could influence Starlink’s global expansion plans, including its venture into the Indian market.
