1 week ago

Starlink’s Rural India Promise Faces Security-Related Launch Delays

Elon Musk says Starlink could help people in rural India get better internet access.

Starlink uses satellites in space instead of cables and towers on the ground.

The company has received important licences and approvals in India.

However, the service has not officially launched yet.

Indian authorities are concerned that foreign satellite companies could send Indian data through gateways outside India.

The government wants all Indian traffic to pass through ground facilities located in India.

New rules also require local manufacturing, Indian data centres and cooperation with security agencies.

Starlink must meet these requirements before its service can formally begin.

Key facts

Company: Starlink, owned by Elon Musk
Indian licence: Starlink received a Department of Telecommunications operator licence after first applying three years earlier.
Latest approval: IN-SPACe authorised Starlink’s satellite constellation last July, according to the article.
Gen1 constellation: The Starlink Gen1 constellation comprises 4,408 satellites orbiting at roughly 540–570 kilometres.
Estimated capacity: The constellation is described as capable of providing about 600 Gbps of throughput over India.
Indian requirements: Rules require local manufacturing, data localisation, NavIC support, traffic monitoring and cooperation with law enforcement.
Manufacturing target: Operators must plan to achieve at least 20% indigenisation of their ground segment within five years of commercial operations.

indianexpress.com · 1 week ago