The SpaceX-manufactured broadband division is anticipated to launch its broadband service in the country from December next year, with over two lakh active terminals yet to get prior approval from the Indian government.
Satellite Corporation Starlink, operated by Elon Musk-led SpaceX will reportedly pivot its focus on 10 rural Lok Sabha constituencies with the view of offering internet services as said one of the company officials familiar with the update.
Starlink is looking forward to discussing the significance of broadband connectivity in rural regions of the country. The company will be conversing virtually with top government officials including members of the parliament and other ministers about the sketched-out plan which is expected to transform the lives of people in rural areas.
The SpaceX-manufactured broadband division is anticipated to launch its broadband service in the country from December next year, with over two lakh active terminals yet to get prior approval from the Indian government.
On October 3, 2021, Starlink director for India Sanjay Bhargava unveiled that this month he would be looking forward to having half an hour discussions with MPs, Indian government secretaries, etc. in order to get their views on broadband connectivity. He further added that the corporation would be piloting over 80 percent of the Starlink terminals shipped to India which would focus mainly on ten rural Lok Sabha constituencies. He also informed earlier that the broadband service provider has witnessed pre-booking of more than 5,000. He said it would be expectedly easier to receive the government’s approval considering the high number of orders booked in the countries. Furthermore, in this regard, he revealed that the frequency of pre-orders will aid the company in decision making to pick the constituencies which the company will focus its upcoming project on.
The forthcoming service by the satellite company will be available to the potential customers in India at $99 (Rs. 7,350), with a promising delivery of the data speed in the range of 50 – 150 megabit a second in its seeding phase.
The anticipated services soon to be introduced by Elon Musk-led company will perhaps face competition with broadband giants including Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, etc., along with standing as a neck-and-neck competitor of OneWeb, a satellite communications establishment which has chalked out plans to bring its services in the country from May next year.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet providing company managed by Elon Musk-led SpaceX. It is basically an internet constellation manufactured by SpaceX in order to provide internet services. Starlink has developed over 1,600 satellites giving access to internet connectivity to most parts of the globe. The beta-stage service of the company which was launched last month is currently serving 17 countries from around the world and has planned to launch its services in India, Mexico, and Japan soon.
Is Starlink available in India?
As of now, Starlink’s beta services are available in different countries except India. However, the company is in talks to launch its services in 10 rural constituencies in India from December 2022, after getting the approval on its broadband terminals by the government.
How fast the Starlink internet can be?
As unveiled this month, Starlink claims to deliver internet services in the speed ranging from 50 to 150 megabit per second in its beta version.
