Starlink says it is ready to launch high-speed internet in India
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Starlink has said it is prepared to launch high-speed satellite internet services in India, stressing that it has worked with Indian regulators and industry players for more than five years and secured the necessary government approvals for its local infrastructure.
The Elon Musk-owned company’s remarks came after Reliance Industries welcomed competition in satellite communications while emphasising that Indian and foreign operators must follow the same regulatory requirements.
Starlink said it had established dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure within India to handle domestic traffic securely. Musk responded to Reliance’s statement on X with the words, “Much appreciated.”
Reliance said all companies must comply with Indian laws and policies, adding that Jio’s satellite services were also awaiting clearances. The company said it viewed competition as an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of its services, citing Jio’s growth to more than 530 million customers since entering India’s telecom market in 2016.
Although Starlink has obtained a licence to offer satellite communication services in India, it still needs security clearances and other approvals before beginning commercial operations.
The exchange follows Musk’s recent criticism of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani over Starlink’s entry into India. Musk accused the billionaire of seeking to preserve a monopoly and questioned whether Starlink would be allowed to compete in the country’s satellite internet market.
With IANS inputs