A landmark decision by Modi government could redefine the concept of digital connectivity across India. Elon Musk’s Starlink has received the clearance for regulatory operations for its satellite-based internet service in the country. After years of regulatory hurdles and national security concerns, Starlink got clearance from Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to launch its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services for Indian consumers.
The approvals were followed by major policy shifts, strict security compliance standards for foreign participants and top priority to local production, as per India’s Make in India and Digital India policies.
Initial setbacks of Starlink
Starlink’s India journey began controversially in 2021. The company started accepting pre-orders from Indian consumers for its satellite internet kits, even before it had acquired the mandatory Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). In response Government stated that “It is hereby informed to the public at large that the said company has not obtained any authorisation for rendering satellite-based internet services in India,” and as a result of negligence by the Starlink, the Indian government issued a public warning and asked Starlink to cease its operations immediately and refund all the payments made to them by Indian citizens.
Security threat: Starlink Devices Found in Sensitive Conflict Zone
What followed next was not merely regulatory negligence, but also a national security concern. In mid-2023, reports emerged that Starlink routers and antenna were discovered in the northeastern state of Manipur, an area burning under effect of ethnic violence and insurgency operations. This has sent alarming scenario to Indian security agencies, that they have been apprehensive about use of unauthorised encrypted communication channels that can outsmart security surveillance systems. Starlink was requested to comply with strict terms in aspects of lawful interception, user identity authentication and data localisation to prevent a compromise of national security.
PM Dialogues with Elon Musk Resolves Deal
Amid the serious security and regulatory concerns, a diplomatic breakthrough came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in February 2025. During this trip Shri Narendra Modi met Elon Musk on February 14, 2025 and discussed India’s technological priorities, including Starlink’s regulatory negligence.
Following the meeting, senior Starlink executives Chad Gibbs (VP) and Ryan Goodnight (Senior Director) also visited India and met with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. In this meeting Starlink has expressed its willingness to invest in Indian infrastructure, follow legal requirements and contribute to the domestic digital ecosystem.
GMPCS License and IN-SPACe Authorisation
The breakthrough came in June 2025, when Starlink was granted the GMPCS license by the DoT, enabling it to legally offer satellite communication services in India. On July 9, 2025 IN-SPACe the regulatory body overseeing non-governmental space operations, granted Starlink a five-year authorisation till 7 July, 2030 to operate its Gen1 LEO constellation which has 4,400 satellites that cover across the Indian airspace. IN-SPACe confirmed that Starlink had agreed to a range of conditions that include
- Installation of minimum three ground gateway stations in India.
- Compliance with national security protocols.
- Use of Make in India hardware and software products, in line with domestic policy.
Make in India: Localisation at the Core of Deal
Perhaps the most strategic aspect of the approval is Starlink’s agreement to use localised at least 20 per cent of its infrastructure in India, a condition that aligns perfectly with the Make in India initiative. The company is expected to collaborate with Indian manufacturers for producing components such as satellite antenna, receivers and possibly few software elements.
This is likely to create new job opportunities in Indian electronics manufacturers, space-tech startups and satellite component suppliers. It may also encourage joint ventures and technology transfer with Airtel and Jio will give growth to Bharat and firms its foot in the expanding global space economy.
Rural Connectivity and Digital India
Starlink’s LEO satellite technology delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to India’s most inaccessible and underserved regions or places where fibre optics or mobile towers are economically or logistically unavailable. This fits directly into the goals of Digital India and rural initiatives like Bharat Net, aimed at bridging the urban-rural digital divide. Government agencies are also exploring Starlink as a platform for Telemedicine in PHC’s and CHC’s, Online education for remote village students, so that they can compete and update their knowledge as per urban people have.
E-governance and its benefits can be directly used by the villagers and thus government have live monitoring of the policy dissemination on ground. Disaster response systems in North India and North East India can be improved to minimise the disaster rate. The ability to deliver services through satellite antenna and routers could empower remote villages, tribal communities and border posts with seamless internet access.
While the licensing hurdles have been crossed, Starlink still awaits the assignment of satellite spectrum for its user and gateway links. India has chosen to administratively allocate spectrum rather than auction it aligning with global satcom practices.
This decision has invited pushback from domestic telecom giants like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, who argue that this satellite players Starlink have an unfair pricing edge. The Department of Telecommunications is expected to resolve this issue before allowing full-scale rollout of Starlink’s commercial services.
After the final spectrum clearance is achieved, Starlink plans to launch pilot state trial services by the end of this year. The company has been exploring local distribution partnerships with state governments and e-commerce companies. A nationwide launch may take place in 2026, depending on logistics, terminal import approvals and the preparedness of ground infrastructure work.
A Balance of Innovation and Nation First Policy
Starlink’s regulatory clearance in India is more than just a business development, it’s a blueprint for future tech-sector partnerships in India. The approval reflects a growing development in India’s policymaking through blending of national security, self-reliance and innovation.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi this deal and the government’s insistence on localisation and compliance, has mark a strategic shift in how India negotiates technology entry into its markets. The Starlink model as a technology will serves Indian needs through domestic integration and may become the standard for future tech diplomacy.
As India enters the next phase of its digital journey, Starlink’s success could help in propelling both, India’s space-tech economy and its dream of Vishwaguru, without compromising on sovereignty or self-reliance.
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