INVC NEWS
New Delhi — : The Affordable, high-speed internet may soon reach India’s most remote villages, as Elon Musk’s Starlink is almost ready to roll out its services across the country. The satellite internet giant has taken a major step forward with a game-changing plan that could reshape rural connectivity: ₹3000 per month for unlimited internet, powered by cutting-edge LEO satellite technology.
Green Signal from the Indian Government
Starlink received a major boost on June 6 when the Telecom Ministry of India officially granted the company a license to offer broadband services in India. This approval places Starlink alongside India’s top satellite internet players, including Reliance Jio’s Jio Satellite Communications and Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb. It marks a significant moment in India’s digital expansion, especially for areas still struggling with poor or no connectivity.
₹3000 Monthly with Unlimited Data—Plus One-Time Kit Cost
Starlink plans to offer its internet services at ₹3000 per month, giving users access to unlimited data. In addition to the monthly fee, users will need to invest once in a receiver kit priced at ₹33,000, which includes the dish, modem, and setup tools.
Earlier, the estimated cost for a user was around ₹1.58 lakh for the first year. Now, with reduced costs, the total yearly expense has dropped to ₹66,000, aligning with the pricing structure in other nearby countries like Bangladesh.
Massive Speed Advantage with LEO Satellite Technology
Unlike traditional broadband that depends on towers or underground cables, Starlink uses Low-Earth Orbit satellites (LEO) that orbit closer to the Earth. This results in faster speeds and lower latency, even in the most disconnected regions.
Starlink is promising a bandwidth of up to 600–700 Gbps for India, which will benefit:
Remote villages
Hilly regions
Tribal belts
Border towns
Places where fiber optic lines or mobile networks fail will finally have a reliable alternative.
Starlink Already Active in Neighboring Asian Countries
India won’t be Starlink’s first venture in Asia. The company is already operational in:
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Indonesia
Bhutan
Bangladesh
Its success in these markets shows that LEO satellite internet works even in tough terrains and weather conditions, which is ideal for India’s vast and varied landscape.
One Last Hurdle: TRAI’s Spectrum Approval Still Pending
While the license has been granted, Starlink still awaits spectrum allocation recommendations from TRAI to be cleared by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). This final step is essential for the full-scale launch across India.
Once cleared, Starlink will be in a position to deploy satellite internet at a national scale, bringing rural India onto the digital highway.
Why This Matters for India’s Future
Millions in rural India still lack access to stable internet. From online education to remote healthcare, digital payments to job creation, everything today depends on internet access. Starlink’s entry—at a massively reduced price and unlimited usage plan—could shrink the digital divide, open economic opportunities, and empower every corner of the country.
