New Delhi:
Donald Trump's victory speech after his resounding victory in the US elections was full of praise for SpaceX CEO and X boss Elon Musk. The 78-year-old Republican leader described Musk as a “great guy” and a “super genius” and singled out SpaceX Starlink, a telecom giant known for its ability to bring internet connectivity to the most remote corners of the Earth using satellite constellation technology. The president-elect spoke about how Starlink proved to be a lifesaver in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit parts of the US earlier this year.
Back in India, Musk's closeness to Trump and the US president's words of praise for the SpaceX founder have caused a stir: Is Starlink coming here? Musk has been trying to enter the Indian space for a while now, but the regulatory frameworks here have proven to be an obstacle. With the Indian government recently announcing how it plans to allocate satellite spectrum and the Trump administration likely to back Musk, Starlink's entry could be a matter of time.
What's different about Starlink
Starlink uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed internet connections. The satellites transmit internet data via radio signals. Ground stations transmit signals to satellites in orbit and relay the data to users. This form of internet service does not require miles of overhead or underground cables. This may not make a big difference in urban areas where traditional broadband internet is available and users have several options to choose from. Starlink scores in remote areas where traditional services such as optical fiber are not viable and therefore unavailable. Starlink was launched in 2019 and already has more than 4 million users worldwide. In a country like India, such a service could be a breakthrough in tackling the digital divide.
Starlink's India push
Elon Musk has been trying to get Starlink into the Indian market since 2021. SpaceX had even started inviting pre-orders, before the Center intervened and asked the company to meet regulatory requirements first. “Displaying satellite based services in India requires requisite license(s) from the Ministry of Telecommunications, Government of India. This is to inform the general public that the said company has not obtained any license/authorization for displaying satellite services. -based internet services booked on their website,” the government said, asking SpaceX to comply with the country's regulatory framework.
However, a recent development has raised hopes. Last month, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that spectrum for satellite services would be allocated administratively and the cost would be determined by the telecom regulator. Musk welcomed the announcement and said SpaceX would do its best to “serve the people of India with Starlink.”
The home players
If the government's new stance makes it easier for global players like Starlink to offer satellite internet in India, it will pave the way for stiff competition with the home players, especially Mukesh Ambani's Jio and Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel.
Jio has emphasized that the government should allocate spectrum through auctions to create a level playing field. Mr Mittal has also said that satellite companies with urban ambitions should buy spectrum just like telecom companies.
According to reports, Starlink has told regulator TRAI that Indian telecom companies are pushing for reasonable prices for their systems and lobbying for higher rates for others. It argues that the home players have their business model in mind, and not the interests of disadvantaged communities.
However, the Indian telecom companies claim that the rural connectivity plank is being used by global players to get favorable terms for spectrum and they will soon push for expansion in urban areas, competing directly with the local service providers.