What Elon Musk's Starlink Satellite Internet Means For Users In India?
US billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink, has received a licence for satcom services in India, making it the third company to secure the licence from the Department of Telecom (DoT), news agency PTI reported, quoting sources.
The company will be granted trial spectrum within 15 or 20 days of applying for it, the report added. Starlink operates a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites positioned just 550 km above the Earth.
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The position enables faster, low-latency internet access due to the satellite’s proximity to Earth compared to traditional ones. The system is already in use in more than 70 countries, providing internet access to the most remote and disaster-prone regions.
SpaceX, the billionaire’s space exploration firm, has currently deployed approximately 7,000 LEO satellites globally and aims to increase this to over 40,000, enabling internet access even in the most remote and challenging terrains.
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How would Starlink Launch Transform Internet Users In India?
With Starlink’s launch, people in the nooks and corners of India might be able to get access to higher high-speed internet than anticipated, posing potential competition to conventional broadband services. When it comes to the cost, Starlink is expected to debut with promotional unlimited data plans priced below $10 per month – approximately Rs 850, offering satellite-based internet services with a total bandwidth capacity between 600 and 700 Gbps.
However, to access the internet through Starlink, users will be required to purchase the system’s hardware kit, consisting of a satellite dish and Wi-Fi router. The kit may cost between Rs 20,000 and Rs 35,000, requiring a one-time investment to access the service, the report suggests.
The company has not officially announced its final pricing details for India. The company aims to complete the first phase of infrastructure deployment within six to seven months of licensing. This includes establishing over 27 ground gateways across three strategic locations in India to support its earth station network.
