Starlink coming to India? Here is everything you need to know about Elon Musk satellite internet service

Imagine living in the middle of nowhere with no reliable internet, no Netflix, no WhatsApp calls that don’t freeze mid-sentence. That’s where Starlink comes in, offering an easy and absolutely seamless way to connect to the world. In fact, with Starlink, you can stay connected to high-speed internet even while soaring through the skies. Created by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink uses a constellation of satellites to deliver high-speed internet to even the most remote corners of the planet. It’s not your typical broadband service– instead of relying on miles of cables, it beams the internet down from space, bringing fast, reliable internet to places traditional providers just can’t reach. And now the best part is that Starlink might just come to India.
Recently, India’s Telecom Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, mentioned that the government is considering a different approach for satellite spectrum allocation, rather than the usual auction process. This means India might follow a more global standard, which avoids auctioning and could make it easier for companies like Elon Musk’s Starlink to enter the market.
Musk, who is interested in bringing Starlink services to India, was happy with this update. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “Much appreciated!” and added that Starlink will do its best to serve the people of India. Essentially, he’s excited because this could make Starlink’s launch in India smoother.
Starlink is a satellite internet service provided by SpaceX, the company led by Elon Musk. Unlike traditional internet providers that rely on underground cables or mobile towers, Starlink uses a network of satellites orbiting the Earth to deliver internet to users. The main goal of Starlink is to provide high-speed internet to areas that are either remote or don’t have good broadband options, which makes it particularly helpful for rural areas and places where setting up traditional internet infrastructure is difficult.
Most internet providers, like your local broadband company, use physical infrastructure like fiber optic cables to send data. This works well in cities and towns where laying cables is possible, but it becomes really hard (and expensive) to do in remote areas, mountains, or isolated villages. That’s where Starlink comes in. Instead of laying cables, Starlink uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to beam internet signals directly to homes, offices, or even moving vehicles like RVs and boats.
Traditional satellite internet services also exist, but they use satellites that are much farther away from Earth, which means slower speeds and higher latency (the delay in data transmission). Starlink’s satellites are much closer, so they can provide faster internet speeds and lower latency, making the connection more reliable and suitable even for things like video calls and online gaming.
To access Starlink, users need to buy a special kit that includes a satellite dish, a Wi-Fi router, and all the necessary cables. The dish is small and portable, and it connects directly to the Starlink satellites to bring the internet to your home. Once you set it up—usually on your rooftop or in an open space—it starts receiving signals from the satellites and provides internet through the Wi-Fi router.
The setup is fairly easy, and Starlink provides an app that helps you find the best location to place your dish. Unlike many traditional services, you don’t need a professional to come and install it for you, which is a nice perk.
When it comes to speed, Starlink offers internet speeds between 25 Mbps and 220 Mbps, depending on the plan you choose and your location. This is much faster than what most other satellite internet providers offer and is comparable to many traditional broadband services.
As for data, one of Starlink’s big selling points is that it offers unlimited data on most of its plans. Unlike some satellite providers that cap your data usage or slow down your speed after you’ve used a certain amount, Starlink’s basic residential plan doesn’t have these limits. However, some of the higher-tier business plans do come with something called “priority data.” This means you get faster speeds for a set amount of data (like 40GB or 1TB), and once you exceed that, you switch to the regular unlimited data with slightly lower priority. But for most everyday users, the standard unlimited plan will cover their needs without any worries about hitting data caps.
Starlink is already available in several countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, and New Zealand. It has also expanded its services to Spain, Italy, and Mexico, making a significant impact in both rural and urban regions. In addition, countries like Portugal, Brazil, Austria, and the Netherlands have access to Starlink, along with Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, and Denmark.
In Latin America, Chile is among the first to benefit from Starlink’s satellite internet service, while in Scandinavia, Norway and Sweden have also joined the growing list.
If Starlink comes to India, it could bring some major benefits, especially for people in rural and remote areas. Right now, many villages and smaller towns in India struggle with poor or no internet connectivity, which makes it hard for people to access essential services like online education, remote work, or even basic communication. Starlink’s satellite internet can change that by providing fast, reliable internet to places where traditional broadband services are not available.
Starlink’s biggest advantage is its wide reach. Since it uses satellites instead of cables, it can deliver internet almost anywhere, even in the most remote parts of the country. This would be a game changer for regions that are either too difficult to access or where laying fiber optics is just too costly. So, whether it’s the mountains of the Northeast or remote villages in Rajasthan, Starlink could offer a lifeline for connectivity.
The internet speeds Starlink offers are also pretty impressive, with speeds ranging from 25 to 220 Mbps. For rural areas that often get stuck with slow speeds or unreliable connections, this would be a huge upgrade. This means people in these areas could access high-quality video streaming, online education, and even do things like video calls and gaming without much lag.
Another perk is that Starlink doesn’t require professional installation. Users just need to buy the equipment and set it up themselves, which is a simple process. Plus, there are no long-term contracts, so people have the flexibility to opt in and out as needed.
On the downside, the cost could be a challenge for many in India. The equipment fee and monthly charges are quite high when compared to local broadband services. But for those in areas with no other internet options, this could still be worth it, especially since there’s no data cap on most plans.
Overall, if Starlink comes to India, it could help bridge the digital divide, especially in rural regions. While it might not replace fiber or 5G in urban areas, it could certainly change the way people access the internet.