Elon Musk’s Starlink will debut in India through Maharashtra, connecting remote areas despite pricing and spectrum allocation debates
NEW DELHI: Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service will begin operations in India with Maharashtra state as its initial launch location.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the collaboration on social media platform X, stating his state would lead India in satellite-enabled digital infrastructure.
The service will provide high-speed internet to remote locations using low-orbit satellites, targeting schools, medical facilities and unconnected areas.
India granted Starlink its operating licence in June amid ongoing debates about predatory pricing and spectrum allocation.
Starlink’s business operations vice-president Lauren Dreyer expressed excitement about advancing India’s digital vision once final approvals are secured.
India’s largest telecom providers Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel previously announced partnerships with SpaceX to offer Starlink services.
India is projected to surpass 900 million internet users by year’s end, making it an attractive market for global technology firms.
Google recently announced a $15 billion investment to build India’s largest AI hub outside the United States.
US AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI are planning Indian offices while Perplexity partnered with Airtel in July. – AFP
