Elon Musk’s Starlink seeks India approval, says it will help ‘least served’

Elon Musk's Starlink is seeking approval from India's National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN‑SPACe) to launch its next-generation satellite communication services. The company has resubmitted an application for its Gen 2 constellation, which would operate in low earth orbit at altitudes ranging from 340 to 615 kilometers, introducing direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity.

Starlink CEO Elon Musk emphasized the service's potential to benefit "least served" communities, particularly in rural areas of India, stating, "Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas."

This is Starlink's second attempt to secure approval in India, following an earlier rejection due to non-conformity in certain features and spectrum bands. Previously, IN-SPACe had only authorized the Gen 1 constellation, comprising 4,408 low earth orbit satellites, to provide traditional broadband services in July 2025. However, India is currently exploring additional spectrum bands and considering the implementation of direct-to-device technology, which could give Starlink a competitive advantage.

The company remains optimistic about India's burgeoning satellite communications market, despite regulatory and security challenges that have so far prevented other satellite operators from launching commercial services in the country.