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New Delhi: Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink has officially secured a key approval from India’s telecom ministry, clearing the path for its commercial rollout in the country. The information was confirmed by sources to Reuters and comes after months of anticipation and regulatory discussions.

The licence, granted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), marks a significant step for Starlink, which aims to offer satellite-based broadband across India. The company now joins OneWeb and Reliance Jio, both of which had already received similar clearances to operate satellite internet services in the country.

Starlink gets DoT approval in India

Starlink is now the third major satellite internet firm to receive operational permission in India. According to sources, the Department of Telecommunications has cleared Starlink’s application, a move that removes a major roadblock and brings the company one step closer to launch.

The service is expected to target areas where regular broadband infrastructure either doesn’t reach or is too unreliable. With India’s remote and rural regions often struggling with internet access, satellite networks like Starlink could play a key role in improving digital connectivity.

Competition heats up in satellite internet space

With this development, Starlink is officially competing with two other licensed players in India: Eutelsat-backed OneWeb and Reliance Jio. Both companies have already begun preparing for full-scale operations and have been working closely with Indian authorities to roll out services.

Unlike traditional fibre-based internet, satellite-based broadband uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to beam internet directly to ground receivers. This makes it faster to deploy in remote regions and less dependent on ground-level infrastructure.

What happens next?

The official licence now allows Starlink to move forward with its commercial strategy for India. However, the company will still need to set up local ground stations, comply with satellite spectrum allocation, and manage distribution.

Starlink had previously halted pre-orders in India after facing regulatory pushback in 2021. The company had started collecting interest and deposits before obtaining formal permission, which prompted intervention from the telecom authorities.

Now, with the paperwork in place, all eyes are on how quickly Starlink can set up its service network and begin offering connections to users, especially in states with limited digital infrastructure.