Musk maps Starlink’s India play around rural gaps

Elon Musk has outlined how SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service will focus on reaching "least served" areas of India, particularly rural regions, as the company aims to broaden high-speed connectivity throughout the nation. The large-scale LEO satellite operator remains optimistic about the potential of India's satellite communication market.

The company has been pursuing the launch of its satellite broadband services in India, where the government is currently developing a regulatory framework for spectrum allocation and services.

Musk emphasized this plan following a report that Starlink had re-submitted an application to the space regulator, requesting approval for a Gen 2 constellation. This new system uses direct-to-device (D2D) technology, which would enable phones to maintain connectivity even beyond traditional tower coverage. Musk shared a post showcasing India's rural demographics and internet connectivity statistics, stating that the government's own data reveals that remaining mobile gaps are mainly due to challenging terrain, low commercial viability, and infrastructure constraints.

Musk added that Starlink could play a crucial role in bridging these gaps by serving remote villages, mountains, islands, and disaster-stricken areas. He urged the Indian government to expedite the remaining clearances, allocate the necessary spectrum, and provide a swift commercial approval. He wished the process was completed sooner, as India has been waiting for too long.

The previous request by SpaceX for the 30,000-satellite internet constellation was rejected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) a few years ago due to certain features and spectrum band non-conformities.