Elon Musk’s Starlink Can Have Only 20 Lakh Users in India, Says Telecom Minister

Starlink, a venture by Elon Musk's SpaceX, is gearing up to introduce its satellite internet services in India. Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) finalised the spectrum allocation guidelines.

Now, Union Minister of State for Telecom, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, has stated that Starlink will be permitted to serve only up to 20 lakh users in India.

Elon Musk's Starlink Limited to 20 Lakh Connections in India

Starlink will only be allowed to operate with a cap of 20 lakh connections in India. Speaking at a BSNL review meeting, Sekhar stated that "Starlink can have only 20 lakh customers in India and offer up to 200 Mbps speed. That won't affect telecom services.''

Starlink Launch Timeline and Pricing (Expected)

Starlink is expected to launch its internet services by late 2025 or early 2026 in India. Initially, it aims to offer a bandwidth capacity of 600 to 700 Gbps, which should cater to around 30,000 to 50,000 users. However, Starlink's long-term vision is much broader. By 2027, it intends to expand its bandwidth capacity to 3 Tbps, enabling service provision to millions across India, including remote rural areas.

During the promotional phase, Starlink plans are expected to start at under $10 or approximately ₹850. These plans are anticipated to include unlimited data, making them attractive for early adopters. However, users will need a hardware kit comprising a satellite dish and a Wi-Fi router. In the U.S., this basic kit costs around $349 (₹30,000 approx.), while the portable version is priced at $599 (₹43,000 approx.).

However, the Indian pricing is still under wraps. And, users can expect internet speeds ranging from 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps based on their location and satellite coverage.

Via