Tech Desk 
Jun 06, 2025
Paving the foundation of its expansion in the South Asian region, Elon Musk's Starlink has obtained an important licence from India's telecoms ministry, which marks a significant step towards commercially launching satellite internet in India.
The approval brings Muks-led Starlink on the tiny list of companies that have received licences from the Department of Telecommunications. These satellite services providing firms include Eutelsat, OneWeb, and Reliance Jio.
Starlink has been awaiting this licence since 2022, facing delays mainly due to national security concerns. On the other hand, the licence application of Amazon's Kuiper remains to be greenlit in India, Reuters reported.
In recent months, Starlink is reported to have been involved in disputes with billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Jio over the allocation of spectrum for satellite services. The Indian government has backed Musk's position that the spectrum should be assigned rather than auctioned, a move likely to facilitate Starlink's entry into the market.
With this licence, Starlink has now taken another step closer to offering satellite internet services in India and transforming connectivity in underserved regions.
The approval reflects greatly on India's growing interest in improving its telecommunications landscape through satellite technology.
