Elon Musk’s Starlink
Union Telecom Minister has confirmed that Starlink has been given a Unified Licence to start its satellite internet operations in the India, Elon Musk’s Starlink
In Short?
- With inputs from agencies)India Approves Starlink To Provide Satellite-Based Internet Service
- The licence has been awarded but the allocation of spectrum is still a matter under consideration.
- Boost to rural connectivity through satellite broadband
Shares of Starlink: Elon Musk’s $100 billion internet company BSE -5.46 % received a licence from the Indian government to provide satellite-based broadband services in the country, according to an official statement seen by Reuters and other local media. The announcement coincides with 30 years since India made its first mobile phone call on July 31, 1995.
Starlink had secured a Unified Licence for the satellite internet service on Thursday Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted, “With @Starlink_India being awarded the Unified License to provide satellite-based internet services in India, frameworks for spectrum allocation & gateway establishment are finalised that will usher in a smooth roll-out,” reported PTI. Starlink filed its application last year and had received the nod from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in early July.
“REGULATORY CHECKS DELAY APPROVAL?
It was often delayed due to regulatory checks and problems around the distribution of suitable spectrum. The licence is an important first step for SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company that operates the Starlink internet service and which is eyeing a slice of one of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing internet markets. India Spectrum policy is that spectrum allocation should be done after a licence has been awarded.
Starlink services will stay on hold until the (TRAI) framework for satellite spectrum use is finalised according to TRAI consultation paper on satellite connectivity;
SPACEX COST BREAKDOWN?
As per reports, SpaceX Starlink hardware kit, which consists of a dish antenna, router and mounting equipment could be one-timed around Rs. According to a report from PTI, the service will be launched with an initial 2 million users in ‘beta’ mode across India and will cost roughly around Rs 3,000 per month for unlimited data. The plan has the option of 25Mbps to 220Mbps, and it is expected that Jio will offer its base-level plans for around Rs 850 a month (though an actual price isn’t officially confirmed at the moment).
GROWING SPACE INTERNET MARKET?
This will put Starlink in the same playing field as other global internet providers. The Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat One Web and Jio’s joint venture with Europe’s SES have been given the go- ahead to provide services. However, they are also only waiting on spectrum allocation to be awarded before launching commercial services. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said satellite broadband would be significant to boost digital access in remote as well as hilly areas where laying fibre could be slow or impossible.
🔵ऐसे डेली न्यूज़ देखने के लिए हमारे टेलेग्राम चैनल ज्वाइन करें
🟢ऐसे डेली न्यूज़ देखने के लिए हमारे व्हाट्सएप चैनल ज्वाइन करें
More than 65% of India’s rural population continues to struggle without consistent access to the internet, even till2023 according to data from IAMAI-Kantar ICUBE Report. With satellite services like Starlink could well be poised to bridge this digital divide in the country. Scindia also took the opportunity to look back at India’s overall digital journey. He referred to the path-breaking development during the 11 years of Narendra Modi rule and said it was simply magical. Now that the licensing has been established, attention now turns to the upcoming spectrum auction. When fully launched and operational, Starlink’s low-earth orbit satellites are intended to deliver high-speed internet to regions where traditional connections have never arrived.
