Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is making significant strides toward launching its services in India, with operations expected to begin within the next 12 months. According to CNBC Awaaz, the service is likely to be priced at ₹3,000 per month for unlimited data, with a one-time receiver kit cost of ₹33,000.
This development comes after Starlink received a key operating licence from India’s Ministry of Telecommunications on June 6, putting it in direct competition with Bharti Airtel’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm, which are also authorized to offer satellite-based broadband services in the country.
Aimed at Rural Connectivity with LEO Technology
Starlink will provide 600–700 Gbps of bandwidth via its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The service is expected to primarily cater to rural and remote regions, where traditional broadband infrastructure such as fiber-optic networks and mobile connectivity remains patchy or unavailable.
Although India is known for some of the world’s lowest data tariffs, Starlink is positioning itself as a premium connectivity solution in underserved areas.
Revised Pricing Reflects Regional Parity
Earlier estimates by former Starlink India head Sanjay Bhargava had pegged the first-year cost at ₹1.58 lakh, dropping to ₹1.15 lakh in subsequent years. The updated pricing aligns with Starlink’s rollout in Bangladesh, where customers pay the equivalent of ₹3,000 per month with a ₹33,000 equipment cost, totaling about ₹66,000 in the first year.
Regulatory Approvals Still Pending
While the operational licence is a major milestone, Starlink must still secure spectrum allocation, pending final recommendations from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and approval by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Expanding Across Asia
Starlink is already operational in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, offering Residential Lite plans priced between ₹2,600 to ₹3,000 per month, and Standard plans that can go up to ₹6,000 depending on the country.
With its India debut on the horizon, Starlink is poised to reshape connectivity options for millions living in digitally dark zones.
