Elon Musk's Starlink Gets Trial Spectrum To Test In India

Elon Musk's Starlink Gets Trial Spectrum To Test In India

SpaceX's Starlink, a satellite internet division of Elon Musk's company, has reportedly been granted trial spectrum by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to test its services in India. This clearance is a crucial step for Starlink to establish its ground infrastructure and perform necessary security compliance tests before a potential commercial launch. The company, which already possesses a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license and is authorized by IN-SPACe to operate its satellites, is now moving forward with building the ground stations essential for its operations.

According to industry sources, Starlink plans to deploy base stations at ten different locations across India, with Mumbai designated as the central hub. To facilitate this, the company has also sought an import license to bring in the necessary hardware, including equipment for its landing stations. The task of constructing the primary gateway in Mumbai has reportedly been outsourced to Equinix.

The path to this stage has not been without its challenges for Starlink in India. After a wait of over two years, the company finally secured its GMPCS license earlier this year. The delay was primarily attributed to the need to meet strict security requirements, which mandate that all satellite communication traffic within India must be routed through local earth station gateways. Operators are explicitly forbidden from storing, decoding, or transmitting domestic data outside the country's borders. This rule reflects a significant regulatory hurdle that Starlink, which operates in over 125 countries, has had to navigate. The company also faced a setback in 2021 when it was directed to refund pre-bookings made without regulatory approval.

This development for Starlink comes amid ongoing regulatory activities in India's satellite communication sector. The DoT recently extended the provisional spectrum use for Eutelsat OneWeb and the Jio-SES joint venture, Orbit Connect India, until November. This extension provides these companies, which also hold GMPCS licenses, additional time to comply with new mandatory security protocols introduced in May 2025 before they can begin full-scale commercial services.

Meanwhile, the government is still finalizing the framework for the pricing and allocation of satellite spectrum. The Digital Communications Commission (DCC) is preparing recommendations for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). A major point of contention is the usage charge for satellite service providers. TRAI had previously suggested a charge of 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), a proposal that has been met with resistance from private telecom operators, leaving a final decision pending.

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