Elon Musk’s Starlink Makes Concessions to Enter the Indian Market.
In a significant development, Elon Musk‘s satellite broadband venture, Starlink, has agreed to meet the Indian government’s data localization and security requirements, paving the way for its entry into the country.
According to a Moneycontrol report, Starlink’s satellite broadband services license application in India is set to move forward after the company reached an agreement withhttps://x.com/htTweets/status/1855911595156901970 the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on these critical issues.
The security guidelines stipulate that a satellite communications company operating in India must store all data within the country. This was a major point of contention in the ongoing saga surrounding Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Kuiper’s attempts to establish a presence in the Indian market.
While Starlink is yet to formally submit its agreement, the report indicates that the company must also demonstrate how intelligence agencies can intercept data if necessary, a key requirement for the government.
Starlink’s 2022 application for the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite Services (GMPCS) license is the first step before it can acquire a trial spectrum at a nominal application fee.
The company has also applied for authorization with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the country’s space regulator, which has now moved forward, according to the report.
This development comes amidst reports of a growing partnership between Elon Musk and the newly elected US President, Donald Trump. Musk has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s campaign and has reportedly provided significant funding as well.
The telcos have expressed concerns and asserted that only auctioned satellite spectrum should be used for urban or “retail” consumers to maintain a level playing field, as they acquired their spectrum through auctions.
As the Indian government navigates these complex issues, the entry of Starlink and other satellite broadband providers is expected to bring increased competition and options for consumers, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the country.
