Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, is preparing to launch in India, potentially posing a challenge to existing home broadband players such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The project is being launched in India with a massive investment of Rs 8000 crore to launch 700-750 satellites into Low-Earth orbit (LEO) in the sky above India.

Key Highlights

• Starlink secures India regulatory approvals for ₹8,000 crore investment and 700–750 LEO satellites deployment.
• Final license received from space regulator; next steps include spectrum acquisition, infrastructure setup, and security compliance. 

What are the main challenges Starlink may face in the Indian market?

The price may be high for the customer, but it may decrease if significant user adoption occurs. This has the potential to disrupt existing telecom models almost overnight. This could result in a significant shift in telecom strategies, but technological challenges with direct-to-cell may slow its impact on wireless services. As of yet, Downdetector has received no serious user complaints.

Why does Starlink pose a significant challenge to Jio and Airtel's broadband dominance?

In a recent expert session with JM Financial, it was revealed that the Starlink satellite will be launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in India. Starlink plans to launch approximately 700 to 750 LEO satellites in India. Starlink intends to invest Rs 8,000 crore ($1 billion) in India. This equates to approximately USD 1 million invested per satellite, according to several media reports.

Also Read: Elon Musk's Starlink Approved for India Launch: Pricing and Details

Elon Musk's satellite communication firm Starlink was cleared by the Indian space regulator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), according to sources quoted by news agency ANI.

The government granted Starlink a license in early June to launch GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) services, VSAT services, and ISP Category-A under a single license. The Department of Telecom has approved Starlink for satellite communication (satcom) services, joining OneWeb and Reliance Jio.

Each new satellite is expected to last approximately 7 to 8 years. The annual cost of operating the entire system could reach USD 350 crore.