New Delhi: The Indian government has given a cautious green light to Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, but with tight controls to protect the domestic telecom ecosystem. In a measured move, the Centre has capped Starlink’s subscriber base in India at 20 lakh users and imposed a maximum speed limit of 200 Mbps.
The announcement came from Minister of State for Communications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, who clarified that the restrictions reflect Starlink’s existing technical deployment and are meant to prevent disruption to India’s telecom sector.
“Starlink can provide up to 2 million connections pan-India with speeds capped at 200 Mbps. Given its high cost, the impact on Indian telecom players is expected to be minimal,” the minister told Parliament.
Premium Internet, Niche Audience
Unlike traditional broadband, Starlink beams internet via a constellation of low-earth orbit satellites. The service, expected to launch commercially in India soon, comes at a premium: an estimated ₹33,000 for the hardware kit and ₹3,000 monthly for the subscription. This positions it squarely for rural, remote, and underserved regions where fibre networks are sparse or non-existent.
Industry watchers say the pricing, combined with the user and speed caps, will keep Starlink from eating into the urban telecom market dominated by Jio, Airtel, and BSNL.
Controlled Expansion, No Threat to BSNL
The government stressed that BSNL, which has now completed its 4G rollout across the country, will not face any immediate threat from Starlink’s entry. No tariff hikes are planned for BSNL services, and its focus remains on expanding rural connectivity at affordable rates.
“Starlink will complement, not compete. Its reach will help bridge connectivity gaps, but it’s no substitute for India’s ground-based telecom network,” an official source stated.
Regulatory Oversight in Progress
Starlink’s India entry is still awaiting final clearance from IN-SPACe—the country’s nodal agency for regulating private space-based services. Meanwhile, policy frameworks for satellite spectrum usage are also being fine-tuned.
At a Glance: Starlink in India
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👥 Users Allowed: 20 lakh (2 million) max
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🚀 Speed Limit: Up to 200 Mbps
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💰 Hardware Cost: ~₹33,000
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📅 Monthly Fee: ~₹3,000
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🌍 Coverage Focus: Rural, remote, hilly areas
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🔐 Regulator: IN-SPACe
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📶 BSNL’s Position: 4G ready, no price hikes planned
With its high-speed promise and satellite backbone, Starlink may change the game for India’s remotest corners—albeit, in a tightly regulated lane.
