(Image source from: IndiaToday)
Donald Trump's victory speech after his victory in the US presidential election was full of praise for SpaceX CEO and X Chairman Elon Musk. The 78-year-old Republican leader described Musk as an "amazing human being" and "tremendous genius" and said he was a co-founder of SpaceX Star, the communications giant known for its ability to use satellite constellation technology to provide connectivity to the Internet. You mentioned the distant parts of the earth. The president-elect spoke about how Starlink was a lifesaver after Hurricane Helen struck parts of the United States earlier this year. In India, Musk's closeness to Trump and the US president's high praise for the SpaceX founder have made headlines - will Starlink be here? Musk has been trying to enter the Indian space for some time, but the regulatory framework here has proven to be a barrier to entry. With the Indian government recently announcing plans to allocate satellite spectrum and the Trump administration likely supporting Musk, the arrival of Starlink could only be a matter of time.
Starlink uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed internet connections. Satellites transmit Internet data via radio signals. Ground stations send signals to orbiting satellites, which transmit data to users. This form of internet service does not require miles of overhead or underground cables. In urban areas where traditional broadband internet is available and users have several options to choose from, this may not make much of a difference. Starlink excels in remote areas where traditional services such as fiber are not available. Starlink was launched in 2019 and currently has over 4 million users worldwide. In countries like India, such services can be revolutionary in bridging the digital divide. Elon Musk is trying to bring Starlink to the Indian market from 2021. SpaceX had already started requesting pre-orders before the center intervened and required the company to first comply with legal requirements. “The provision of satellite-based services in India requires necessary licenses from the Ministry of Communications, Government of India. The company in question does not have a license/authorization to provide satellite services. The government said that internet services based on it would be reserved and called on SpaceX to withdraw from the framework. Obey the laws of the land.
However, recent developments offer hope. Last month, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that spectrum for satellite services would be allocated administratively, with costs determined by India's telecom regulator. Musk welcomed the announcement and said SpaceX is doing everything it can to "serve the people of India through Starlink." If the government's new stance makes it easier for global players like Starlink to offer satellite internet in India, it could create stiff competition between domestic players Mukesh Ambani's Jio and Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel. Jio has insisted that the government allocate spectrum through auctions to level the playing field. Mr. Mittal also said that satellite companies with urban ambitions should buy spectrum, just like telecom companies.
Starlink has reportedly told regulator TRAI that Indian telcos are charging fair prices for their systems and forcing others to pay inflated prices. Allegedly, domestic actors have their own business model and do not take into account the interests of disadvantaged communities. But Indian telcos say global players are taking advantage of rural connections to secure favorable spectrum deals and will soon expand into urban areas, putting them in direct competition with local operators.
