Starlink to Set Up Nine Gateway Stations in India
Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink is moving closer to launching its services in India, with plans to establish nine gateway earth stations across the country. Proposed sites include major cities such as Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Lucknow.
Spectrum Request and Capacity
Starlink has sought spectrum capacity of 600 gigabits per second over India using its first-generation (Gen 1) satellite network. A provisional spectrum assignment has already been granted, allowing the company to begin demonstration activities under regulatory supervision.
Compliance and Security Conditions
Authorities have permitted the import of up to 100 terminals for testing, restricted to fixed-satellite-service mode. The Department of Telecommunications has mandated that only Indian nationals may operate the gateway stations until foreign staff secure security clearance. Test data must be stored locally, with terminal locations regularly shared with Indian security agencies.
Competition in Satellite Broadband
Starlink joins OneWeb and Jio Satellite, which have already received similar approvals. A full commercial rollout will depend on final spectrum allocation, security approvals and compliance with India’s data localisation and traffic monitoring rules.
