Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet initiative, is on the brink of obtaining approval from the Indian government, with sources from Money Control suggesting that the official clearance might be granted as early as next week.
Elon Musk’s satellite internet endeavor, Starlink, is on the verge of receiving approval from the Indian government, as per sources from Money Control. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is reportedly content with Starlink’s clarification on its shareholding pattern, paving the way for regulatory consent.
Starlink is set to become the third company, after Jio Satellite Communications and OneWeb, to secure the necessary licenses for providing satellite communication services in India. Anticipated approval positions Starlink for significant advancements in the country’s evolving telecommunications landscape. Sources close to the matter suggest that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) may issue a letter of intent (LoI) to Starlink as early as Wednesday. SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company, has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this development.
The final steps involve the DoT preparing a note for approval by Neeraj Mittal, the telecom Secretary, and Ashwani Vaishnav, the Minister of Communications. Upon their approval, the Satellite Communications Wing (SCW) of the department is expected to officially grant the necessary approvals to Starlink, enabling the initiation of its services in India.
While Mittal is currently in the United States for the PanIIT 2024 Event in Washington DC, Minister Vaishnav is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. The regulatory processes are anticipated to proceed swiftly upon their return.
