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The proposed gateway locations are strategically selected major metropolitan and regional hubs, including Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Lucknow, among others
While Starlink has received its required permits, the final timeline for commercial launch—speculated to be as early as 2026—remains contingent on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) finalising the spectrum pricing and allocation mechanism for satcom services. (Image: X)
US-based Starlink, the satellite internet division of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is aggressively laying the foundational infrastructure for its commercial launch in India, planning to establish nine gateway earth stations across the country, says a report. This move signals a significant step towards the rollout of high-speed, low-latency satellite communication (satcom) services to Indian consumers and enterprises.
The proposed gateway locations, according to The Economic Times, are strategically selected major metropolitan and regional hubs, including Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Lucknow, among others. These earth stations are critical ground-based facilities that serve as the connection points, relaying internet traffic between Starlink’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and the terrestrial fibre optic networks. By establishing a dense network of nine gateways, Starlink aims to ensure optimal coverage, redundancy, and low-latency performance across the vast Indian landscape.
Starlink has reportedly applied for 600 gigabits per second (Gbps) capacity over India using its first-generation satellite constellation. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has provisionally assigned the required spectrum to allow Starlink to conduct mandatory security-related compliance demonstrations. This initial testing phase is highly regulated; the company is currently permitted to import only 100 terminals and test only fixed satellite services.
The government has imposed stringent security conditions, viewing satcom as a critical and sensitive sector. Key compliance mandates include:
Data Localisation: All data generated during the security compliance phase must be stored within Indian territory.
Personnel Restriction: Only Indian nationals are currently permitted to operate the gateway stations until foreign technical experts receive final security clearances from the Union Home Affairs Ministry.
Regular Reporting: Starlink is required to share biweekly reports detailing the user name, address, and geo-coordinates of all deployed terminals with the DoT and security agencies.
This infrastructure push and compliance testing place Starlink alongside key competitors like the Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite (a venture of Reliance Jio) in the race to launch commercial services.
While Starlink has received its required permits, the final timeline for commercial launch—speculated to be as early as 2026—remains contingent on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) finalising the spectrum pricing and allocation mechanism for satcom services. Starlink’s strategy, which heavily targets the underserved retail consumer market, positions it to become a transformative player in India’s digital connectivity.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
October 24, 2025, 16:43 IST
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