Starlink Secures Final Space Clearance to Launch Services in India
Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, has received final regulatory approval from India's space authority, clearing the last major hurdle to begin commercial operations in the country, according to three sources cited by Reuters.
Starlink had been awaiting licensing approval from the Indian government since 2022. While the company received preliminary clearance from the telecommunications ministry last month, approval from the space department remained pending until now.
Starlink will now become the third satellite internet service provider to receive official approval in India, following Eutelsat's OneWeb and Reliance Jio.
To commence services, Starlink must now secure spectrum allocation, build necessary ground infrastructure, and complete mandatory security clearances. Notably, a longstanding dispute between Musk’s Starlink and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio over spectrum allocation was recently resolved in Starlink’s favor by the Indian government.
