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Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink is getting ready to launch in India. The Indian government has reportedly given the go-ahead, with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issuing a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Starlink. This means the company can now begin preparing to offer its high-speed satellite internet services across the country.
For those unaware, Starlink is a satellite-based internet service run by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. It provides the internet by using a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Because these satellites are much closer than traditional ones, they can offer faster internet speeds and lower delays. Starlink is already active in over 100 countries and is now aiming to bring its service to Indian users, especially those in rural and remote areas.
According to reports, Starlink will likely launch unlimited data plans in India at promotional prices of under $10 per month, which is roughly Rs 840. This is likely an effort to attract a large number of users in the early stages. TRAI has proposed a Rs 500 monthly charge for users in urban areas, a 4 percent fee on adjusted gross revenue, and a minimum yearly fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz for satellite spectrum. Starlink will also have to pay an 8 percent license fee to offer services commercially in India.
While hardware pricing in India hasn’t been revealed yet, in the US, the standard Starlink kit costs $349 (about Rs 30,000), and the compact Starlink Mini is priced at $599 (around Rs 43,000). Internet speeds in India are expected to range from 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps, depending on location and satellite coverage.
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Although Starlink has received a Letter of Intent from the DoT, the company still needs final approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center. Once that’s in place, Starlink is expected to launch its services sometime later this year or early next year.
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