Upcoming Starlink Launch in India: Estimated Pricing for Satellite Internet Service Revealed
Starlink Set to Launch in India Later This Year or Early Next Year
Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, is gearing up for its entry into the Indian market. The company has received a letter of intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India and is currently in the final stages of recommendations for spectrum allocation from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) [1][2][3].
Starlink has cleared all necessary regulatory hurdles from Indian authorities, including the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), and obtained the required licenses to operate [1][4]. The service will initially be available to 2 million users nationwide due to spectrum and satellite throughput constraints, with approximately 600 Gbps dedicated to India [1].
Expected internet speeds are up to 200 Mbps, with hardware costs estimated to be around ₹33,000 and monthly subscriptions ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹4,200 depending on location and usage [1][2][3]. Starlink is targeting primarily rural and remote areas where traditional broadband is unreliable or unavailable, positioning its service as complementary rather than competitive to existing telecom providers [1][2].
Infrastructure partnerships with Indian telecom giants such as Airtel and Jio are expected to aid in hardware distribution and service expansion [2]. Further technological upgrades to Starlink satellites, anticipated from 2026 onwards, may significantly improve speeds and capacity in future phases of the rollout [2].
The current prices for Starlink's services in the United States are $349 for the standard kit and $599 for the mini kit. Approximately 4 million global users are currently utilizing Starlink's services [5]. In India, Starlink may introduce unlimited data plans at promotional rates of under $10 (roughly Rs 840) per month [6].
It's worth noting that Starlink will also be required to pay a 4% levy on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) and a minimum annual fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz of satellite spectrum in India [7]. The company will also have to pay an 8% licence fee to offer services commercially in India [8]. However, no information is provided about any potential changes in the pricing structure or data plans offered by Starlink in India.
In summary, Starlink’s commercial operations in India could start within the next few months around the end of 2025, or possibly early 2026, following the final administrative and technical clearances [1][2][3]. The initial rollout will be limited in scale but aims to provide vital broadband connectivity to underserved regions.
References: [1] https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/starlink-to-roll-out-services-in-india-in-late-2025-or-early-2026-11672632427335.html [2] https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/starlink-india-launch-date-elon-musk-satellite-internet-service-1887916-2022-09-27 [3] https://www.businesstoday.in/current/tech/starlink-to-roll-out-services-in-india-late-2025-or-early-2026/story/443885.html [4] https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/starlink-receives-letter-of-intent-from-india-do-t-to-roll-out-services/article36667432.ece [5] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1180320/number-of-starlink-users-worldwide/ [6] https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/starlink-to-introduce-unlimited-data-plans-at-promotional-rates-in-india-1890617-2022-10-14 [7] https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/starlink-to-pay-4-levy-on-adjusted-gross-revenue-in-india-1890616-2022-10-14 [8] https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/starlink-to-pay-8-licence-fee-to-offer-services-commercially-in-india-11664441281357.html
- The space-and-astronomy advancement in technology, represented by Starlink's satellite internet service, is set to penetration into the Indian market with the use of smartphones and other devices for connectivity.
- Despite the initial financial investment required for the Starlink hardware, estimated around $33,000 in India, the monthly subscriptions are anticipated to be relatively affordable, ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹4,200, positioning this service as a viable option for many businesses and households.
- As Starlink positions its service as complementary rather than competitive to existing telecom providers, partnerships with Indian telecom giants such as Airtel and Jio may create opportunities for further technology integration and financial synergies in the Indian market.
