Following the receipt of a letter of intent (LoI) from the department of telecommunications (DoT), SpaceX, the parent company of satellite Internet provider Starlink, will start the process of making investments in the satellite communication (satcom) infrastructure, sources familiar with the matter said.
With the LoI in hand, SpaceX is now permitted to begin constructing ground infrastructure, including earth stations and gateways, which are vital to supporting satellite-based broadband services. These facilities act as communication hubs that connect the orbiting Starlink satellites to the terrestrial Internet network, enabling high-speed Internet access across wide areas, including remote and underserved regions.
The LoI was granted following mandatory security clearances from the ministry of home affairs, a requirement for all foreign satcom players entering the Indian market. This clearance is often seen as a significant hurdle, and its successful acquisition allows SpaceX to begin laying the technical groundwork for its services. The company, which has already entered into distribution partnerships with major telecom operators Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, can now initiate investments while waiting for additional permissions from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
In parallel, Starlink is actively scouting locations to establish its earth stations, a move seen as critical to ensuring service readiness. These ground stations are essential for uplinking and downlinking data to and from satellites in low earth orbit, ensuring reliable connectivity.
While the LoI brings SpaceX closer to competitors like Jio and Airtel, both of whom have secured all necessary regulatory approvals, the allocation of satellite spectrum remains a key step before commercial services can commence. After considerable debate, the government has decided that the DoT, rather than relying on spectrum auctions used for terrestrial telecom, will directly allocate spectrum for satellite services.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is currently working on recommendations for spectrum pricing and distribution methodology. Once finalised, these will be reviewed by the DoT and forwarded to the Digital Communications Commission for further deliberation. If required, the matter will proceed to the Union Cabinet for final approval. This entire process, according to telecom analysts, could take anywhere between six to nine months.
With regulatory progress now underway, SpaceX’s Starlink is steadily positioning itself to launch operations in India, a move that could significantly enhance broadband penetration in the country’s rural and remote regions.