Starlink Set to Launch in India With Direct to Consumer Satellite Internet

What you need to Know

• Starlink will launch operations in India within the next 12 months, offering satellite internet.

• 2 to 3 ground station sites have been identified, each with 9 gateways to connect satellites to the internet.

• Setup costs for users will range from $250 to $600 (₹20,000 to ₹50,000).

• Monthly subscription plans may start as low as $10 (around ₹850).

• The service is expected to boost connectivity in underserved urban areas and challenge current telecom providers.

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Elon Musk's Starlink is finally on the move in India, and it's not just hype this time. The satellite internet company under SpaceX is set to launch operations in India over the next 12 months, a giant step toward bringing high-speed internet to even remotest urban nooks. Starting with an initial bandwidth capacity of 600 to 700 Gbps, Starlink aims to serve 30,000 to 50,000 users in its first phase. Here's all you need to know about what's ahead. To make satellite internet a reality, Starlink is establishing the foundation of its Indian infrastructure Earth stations and gateways. Starlink has shortlisted 2 to 3 strategic sites in India where it will deploy ground stations. Each one of these will have nine gateways that act as the essential connection between Starlink's satellite constellation and the global internet backbone.

And Starlink isn't resting at a few thousand subscribers. If everything goes as planned (and subject to regulatory approvals), the overall bandwidth capacity will grow to a whopping 3 Tbps by 2027. That would be a dramatic change in India's digital connectivity environment, particularly for underserved areas.

Unlike regular internet, say Jio, Airtel, or Vodafone Idea, Starlink is going with a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) approach. AKA, users will not be required to go through local ISPs to access Starlink's services—everything will be straight from the horse's mouth.

What Will It Cost?

• Setup Cost: $250 to $600 (about ₹20,000 to ₹50,000) for the necessary ground equipment.

• Monthly Subscription: Planned to begin at a mere $10 (approx. ₹850) a month very fair if it provides the guaranteed speed and dependability.

Not only does this strategy provide Starlink with complete ownership of its service quality, but it also keeps things easy for the end-user plug in, turn on, and you are online.

Installing satellite internet in a nation like India is as much a matter of navigating regulatory obstacles as it is about hardware and capacitynStarlink's Global Licensing Head, Parnil Urdhwareshe, has been talking directly to the officials at the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to wrap up the outstanding approvals.

The Indian government is close to making bank guarantees by satellite internet operators official, and if things go as planned, Starlink's operating license may be issued as early as mid-June. While Starlink has been receiving resistance from India's settled telecom behemoths since 2022, it appears that things are turning in favor of the company. With steady communication and policy coordination, the firm is now making its mark in India's internet space.

Starlink's arrival may shake up the Indian internet landscape particularly in urban areas that have perennially suffered with poor connectivity even though they belong to big cities. Its satellite-first model can fill the void where fiber optics is lacking. Whether you're a tech geek, an office worker who works remotely, or a resident of an under-served location, Starlink's India launch can revolutionize your internet life.

While we wait for the official launch and last regulatory approvals, something is certain Starlink isn't just arriving in India; it's arriving with a strategy. With strong infrastructure, easy pricing, and end-to-end service directly to the user, Starlink may be a game-changer in the way India accesses the web.

Keep following AndroBranch for more information on Starlink's launch, availability, and performance in the real-world as the service rolls out in India!