Starlink's India License Fast-Tracked Ahead of Elon Musk's Visit

The Department of Telecommunications in India has expedited the process of allocating a license to SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet unit, according to a report by Moneycontrol. This development comes ahead of Elon Musk's anticipated visit to India, where he is expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Musk, the co-founder and CEO of Tesla, is also the owner of SpaceX, the world's leading privately held aerospace company. During his visit, Musk is expected to announce an investment in India, including Tesla's commitment to establishing a manufacturing facility in the country. Reports suggest that Tesla may partner with Reliance for EV batteries as well.

In response to Musk's plans, the Indian government has already relaxed regulations for importing fully built electric vehicles, paving the way for Tesla's entry into the Indian market. Reportedly, Tesla's Berlin GigaFactory has been preparing for shipments to India.

This is not Musk's first attempt to launch Starlink in India. In November 2022, Starlink initiated the process of applying for a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) licence, following a dispute with the government over accepting pre-orders for its terminals without proper licensing. Starlink had also planned to conduct trials for its satcom services in India, but these never materialised. As a result, the government ordered Starlink to refund the fees collected, as it lacked the necessary permissions to operate in the country.

Obtaining the GMPCS license is the first step for Starlink, after which it will need to secure trial spectrum through an administrative route at a nominal application fee. Following this, Starlink will be required to pilot its services in the retail consumer space. Additionally, the company will need to obtain permission from the home ministry, law enforcement, and security agencies in India, as the Indian government has raised some security concerns.

Starlink has previously provided clarification on its shareholding pattern to the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), citing US regulations as the reason for its inability to disclose full ownership details. However, the company has declared to Indian authorities that it does not have investors from countries that share land borders with India, indicating no shareholding from China or Pakistan.

OneWeb, another satcom player, has already received trial spectrum for 90 days and has begun using demo airwaves. It is also the only satcom company with mandatory authorisations from the space industry regulator, the Indian National Space Promotions and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACEe).