SpaceX exec renews Starlink pitch as approvals lay pending
The Union government has held up satellite internet in India with a bevy of security requirements; Lauren Dreyer, a SpaceX executive, hoped that the service would be operational by next year.
Starlink, the satellite broadband service from SpaceX, is still seeking approval to operate in India. Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, reiterated the importance of closing the digital divide during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) on Tuesday. While Starlink has received a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) authorization from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), security approvals are still pending.
These requirements include disabling Starlink receivers bought outside India, and disabling terminals sold in India abroad. Ms. Dreyer emphasized that Starlink has been working with Indian regulators, industry, and operators to adapt the service to meet Indian security requirements and regulations. SpaceX has already established 20 gateway sites with hundreds of antennas and has built the necessary ground infrastructure.
The executive also highlighted SpaceX's previous collaborations with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Indian space companies. Despite facing criticism in 2021 for preordering users' payments, SpaceX obtained GMPCS authorization after several years of efforts. Ms. Dreyer hopes the government will provide security approvals next year, enabling Starlink to start operations in India as soon as possible.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
