Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, has reportedly submitted formal acceptance of the security and data storage regulations mandated by the Indian government for satellite broadband service providers.
This development brings Starlink a step closer to launching its services in India, where it is expected to compete with Reliance JioSpaceFiber, Airtel, and Amazon Kuiper.
According to a report by Financial Express, Starlink has agreed to adhere to key requirements set by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), including local data storage and government data interception. These regulations apply to all satellite service providers before they can obtain an operational licence.
The report also suggests that Starlink had initially sought leniency on certain conditions until its application was fully processed. However, the government declined to grant exemptions to foreign firms. Despite this, the DoT has not requested any further clarifications from Starlink, indicating that its application is progressing.
Starlink is expected to face stiff competition from Reliance Jio and Airtel, both of which are gearing up to enter the satellite broadband space in India. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is set to allocate satellite spectrum in the coming months, after which services from these providers could officially launch.
A notable point of contention in the industry has been whether satellite spectrum should be allocated administratively or through an auction. Starlink previously opposed Jio’s push for an auction-based allocation, arguing that it could discourage global satcom providers from entering the Indian market.
Currently, Starlink and Amazon Kuiper are still awaiting approval to begin operations in India. Meanwhile, OneWeb and Jio have already secured their Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licences.
With regulatory processes moving forward, satellite broadband services are likely to roll out in India soon, providing enhanced internet connectivity, especially in remote and underserved regions.