Satellite internet launch in India expected by December as DoT finalises spectrum rules: Report

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) gave its recommendations in May, and the DoT is expected to finalise pricing and allocation rules by October after cabinet approval, an industry executive told ET.

Starlink on Wednesday became the third operator after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES to get a commercial clearance from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). The authorisation is valid for five years or until the end of Starlink’s Gen1 constellation operational life, whichever is earlier.

"Indian National Space Authorisation and Promotion Centre (INSPACe) granted authorisation to M/s Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, New Delhi (SSCPL) for enabling provisioning of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites constellation, namely Starlink Gen1. The authorisation will enable SSCPL to provide satellite communication services in India," a statement from the space sector regulator said.

Starlink had been eyeing the Indian market since 2022 for launching commercial operations.

The Economic Times quoted two industry executives as saying that services could be launched within a month of spectrum allotment, implying a November-end to December timeline at the earliest.

However, some industry officials noted that delays in spectrum allocation have caused India to miss opportunities to become a satcom hub for neighbouring countries, while the government has lost out on potential tax revenues. “

Equipment has been lying idle for the last six or eight months. We need to test them again,” one executive said.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper and Globalstar are also awaiting approvals to operate in India.

India’s space economy is projected to reach $44 billion by 2033, accounting for around 8% of the global market, IN-SPACe estimates. The country’s annual satcom business revenue potential is pegged at $1 billion.

The satcom spectrum allocation has been contentious as telecom operators were pushing for auctions while satcom companies such as Starlink and Amazon Kuiper sought administrative allocation.

The government and TRAI have decided in favour of administrative allotment.