Elon Musk Starlink Satellite
Elon Musk has confirmed that Starlink’s satellite service is coming to India soon, saying the high-reliability network is ready to launch once formalities are completed. Speaking on Nikhil Kamath’s People of WTF podcast, Musk stated how Starlink’s constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites delivers fast, low-latency internet, especially in regions underserved by traditional telecom infrastructure. While most of the details remain under the wraps, here’s everything we know about Starlink India launch timeline, price, setup costs, speed and more.
Starlink is reportedly working on key requirements such as establishing points of presence, obtaining satcom gateway approvals, network equipment licenses and acquiring spectrum. Previously, the company has partnered with the Maharashtra government to establish Starlink in underserved areas. However, Elon Musk did not reveal the exact timeline for the India launch, but the report suggests that the services could go live in the first quarter of 2026.
As per the report, Starlink’s initial hardware setup is likely to cost between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000, with monthly plans ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,200, depending on the user’s location and usage requirements. Early reports indicate that tariffs may differ between rural and remote areas.
Indian users can expect speeds ranging from 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps, which may appear modest for urban fibre users but could improve connectivity in underserved areas.
Musk added that Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites, which are placed around 550 kilometres below the surface and are substantially lower in altitude than typical GEO satellites, allow for much lower latency, meaning better connectivity.
According to reports, SpaceX has already deployed nearly 7,000 of these satellites around the world and intends to expand the network to over 40,000 to cover the most difficult terrains.