Starlink could finally launch in India to bring satellite-based internet

According to a new report from The Economic Times, Starlink will soon receive a Global Mobile Personal Communications By Satellite (GMPCS) license from the Government of India, which would allow the company to offer satellite-based voice, messaging, and data communication services in the country. In other words, Starlink could soon launch in India.

Starlink applied for the license in 2022

Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, which offers satellite-based communication services, applied for a license with the Indian government in 2022 to provide its service in the country. During the licensing process, Starlink was asked questions about data storage and transfer. Reportedly, the company said that it would follow international norms on the matter, which didn’t satisfy the government as it wants companies operating in the country to store data locally for security reasons.

Reportedly, Starlink then agreed to the government’s rules, and as a result, the company would soon be getting the GMPCS license. According to The ET, the latest news comes from a government official. However, the publication hasn’t revealed the name of the source. “The answers given by Starlink to our queries look satisfactory… After the security check is completed, the company will be given a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) license to offer services,” the official told The ET.

Starlink will compete with JioSpaceFiber and OneWeb in India

Once Starlink receives the license, it will become the third company to get approval from the government to offer satellite-based communication services in India, with the other two being Reliance’s JioSpaceFiber and Bharti Airtel’s OneWeb. The Government of India has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to allocate a radio spectrum for these companies to offer satellite-based communication services in the country. However, that’s expected to happen only after TRAI gets a chairman.