New Delhi: Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Tuesday that the central government has granted a license to Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, to operate in India. The announcement came after a meeting with SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell, where they discussed the future of satellite communications in supporting India’s digital ambitions. Shotwell welcomed the move, calling it a promising start for Starlink’s journey in the country.

Starlink uses a vast network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites positioned around 550 km above Earth to provide high-speed internet, especially in remote and rural areas. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites, Starlink's LEO constellation offers faster and more reliable connectivity, supporting services like streaming, video calls, and online gaming. The network currently includes over 7,000 satellites, with plans to expand to over 40,000.

With this license, Starlink becomes the third provider approved by India’s Department of Telecommunications for satellite internet services, following Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications. Telecom giants Jio and Airtel have already partnered with SpaceX to deliver Starlink internet, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper is still awaiting approval. The entry of Starlink is expected to play a major role in narrowing India’s digital divide.