Elon Musk’s Starlink Set to Launch in India: The initiative to roll out Elon Musk’s Starlink in India is advancing, following a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the U.S. tech entrepreneur.
The discussions focused on the “significant potential for collaboration” in technology and innovation, paving the way for Musk’s satellite internet service to be launched in the South Asian nation.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s dedication to enhancing its technological and innovative partnerships with the United States.
“I had a conversation with Elon Musk about various topics, including those we covered during our earlier meeting in Washington D.C. this year. We examined the considerable potential for collaboration in technology and innovation,” Modi noted.
Musk, in response to the meeting, stated that the business discussions would create new opportunities for the population of India. “Overall, it was an excellent meeting with the Prime Minister; I respect him greatly, and we’ve known each other for a while,” he remarked.
Commenting on Modi’s leadership in technology and solar initiatives, Musk added, “He (Modi) genuinely aims to do what’s best for India, fostering new companies and ensuring it benefits the nation, which is admirable.”
Earlier this year, Modi also met Musk during a visit to the U.S., describing their talks as “good” and mentioning discussions about space, mobility, technology, and innovation.
This meeting follows a recent gathering where Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hosted a Starlink delegation. Their discussions revolved around evaluating Starlink’s capabilities in India and exploring potential investment strategies.
“Discussions covered Starlink’s advanced technology platform, existing partnerships, and future investment ambitions in India,” Goyal shared on X.
Experts have indicated that Starlink’s entry into the Indian market could be highly beneficial, given the country’s large population, exceeding 1.438 billion, with nearly half residing in rural regions.
According to Statista, India’s internet penetration rate is projected to reach 55.3% in 2025, an increase from 52.4% in 2024 and 13.5% in 2014. These statistics underscore that a significant segment of the population remains without internet access.
With Starlink’s satellite technology capable of providing reliable, high-speed internet, Indian officials see it as a potential solution to bridge the digital divide across the country. Starlink’s network of over 6,750 low-Earth orbit satellites is expected to offer internet speeds between 50 and 250 Mbps, based on global service data.
Last month, two major Indian telecommunications firms entered into agreements with SpaceX to deploy Starlink Internet services in India. Both agreements are dependent on SpaceX securing the necessary permissions to operate within the country.
As Starlink seeks regulatory approval, it faces challenges stemming from India’s stringent security protocols, which have previously hindered its expansion. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential misuse of satellite internet devices in conflict zones, particularly following allegations of Starlink technology being employed for militant activities in India.
Furthermore, foreign companies frequently encounter difficulties penetrating the Indian market due to local competition and regulatory policies. U.S. companies, including Meta, Walmart, and Amazon, have faced significant obstacles in this regard.
Starlink has been pursuing a launch in India for a considerable time. Its entry could represent a lucrative opportunity for the company, given the country’s vast population and tech-savvy consumers, with Statista reporting an internet user base of 1.2 billion in 2023.
Additionally, analysts have noted that Musk’s influential connections within the U.S. government may prompt Indian officials to reassess a Starlink agreement, coinciding with ongoing trade discussions between U.S. and Indian representatives that have seen previous tariffs from the Trump era suspended.
As India and the U.S. negotiate trade agreements, the anticipated deal is viewed as a significant accomplishment for Musk, who maintains positive relationships with both Modi and Trump.
Upon Starlink’s launch in India, Musk will find himself partnering with, and potentially competing against, Reliance’s Jio and Bharti Airtel, which collectively dominate the Indian telecom market. This scenario will present Musk with opportunities to collaborate with prominent Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal.
Meanwhile, Neil Shah from Counterpoint Research suggests that Starlink has a competitive edge in India, as it can provide internet access to rural areas where Jio and Airtel lack coverage and where establishing telecom infrastructure is costly. Jio and Airtel may help facilitate local customer acquisition for Starlink by selling the necessary equipment for high-speed internet.
In the interim, Starlink continues to expand its presence across Africa, having recently launched services in Somalia and Lesotho, now operational in approximately 20 African nations.
