Starlink and other providers near India satellite broadband launch

India is moving closer to launching commercial satellite broadband services following the Digital Communications Commission's approval of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommendations regarding satellite spectrum allocation. This regulatory milestone clears the path for providers such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Reliance Jio to begin operations.

Under the approved framework, satellite service providers are expected to receive spectrum for five-year terms and will be required to pay a spectrum usage charge (SUC) equivalent to 5 percent of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR). To encourage connectivity in rural and remote areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited, the government is expected to offer lower spectrum usage charges for companies extending services to those regions.

To begin services, companies must acquire spectrum from the government, establish necessary ground infrastructure, and demonstrate compliance with national security requirements through trials and testing. The shift from traditional Geostationary (GEO) satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) technology, utilized by Starlink, aims to provide high-speed internet with significantly lower latency compared to older satellite models.