A new revolution is about to take place in India’s internet world. Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is preparing for its full-scale launch in India. According to reports, the company is planning to build nine gateway earth stations across the country, including in major cities like Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow. It is believed that this move will enable high-speed internet access even in remote areas of India, even without mobile networks!
600 gigabit speed capability and trial begins
According to a report in The Economic Times, Starlink has applied for 600 gigabits per second capacity in India through its Gen 1 satellite constellation. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has currently allotted the company provisional spectrum for demonstration purposes to verify security standards. This permission allows Starlink to import 100 user terminals and to demonstrate fixed-satellite service only.
Strict security rules and monitoring
The government has imposed strict conditions on Starlink to prevent any misuse. The company had proposed bringing in foreign technical experts to operate its stations, but the government has clarified that only Indian citizens will be able to operate these stations until security clearance is obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Security concerns had been raised earlier as well
Previously, Indian security agencies had raised concerns about the illegal use of Starlink terminals in some restricted areas. In March 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the Department of Telecommunications to investigate after illegal Starlink equipment was seized in Manipur and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Following this, the government mandated data localization and regular reporting.
Data will remain in India
During the trial, the company will not be able to offer its services to the public. Any data generated during this time will have to be stored securely within India. Furthermore, Starlink will be required to send reports to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and security agencies every 15 days, detailing the locations of its stations, the terminals being used, and the locations of users.
