The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India is expediting the licensing process for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet unit ahead of his anticipated visit later this month. According to sources cited by Moneycontrol, DoT is working on issuing a letter of intent (LoI) and trial spectrum to Starlink for its satellite communications services.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has confirmed his visit to India on April 21 and 22, during which he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Musk’s visit is expected to include significant announcements, notably the launch of Starlink and potential investments ranging from $2 billion to $3 billion in India.
Starlink, a project by SpaceX, offers high-speed internet access via satellites. Musk has previously made attempts to introduce Starlink in India. In November 2022, Starlink applied for a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite Services) license after facing disagreements with the government over pre-orders without proper licensing. However, planned satellite communication service trials in India were canceled, leading to a government directive for fee refunds due to operating without permissions.
The first step for Starlink is to obtain the GMPCS license, followed by acquiring trial spectrum through an administrative process with a minimal application fee. Subsequently, Starlink will pilot its services for retail consumers in India. Additionally, the company must secure approvals from various Indian authorities due to security concerns raised by the government.
The competition in the satellite communication spectrum is intensifying. Musk’s Starlink will face competition from Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio in partnership with Luxembourg-based SES, and Sunil Bharti Mittal’s Bharti Airtel in collaboration with OneWeb-Eutelsat, both vying for satellite communication spectrum.
During his visit, Musk is expected to meet with various government officials, including Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. Preparations for Musk’s visit are underway, with invitations likely to be sent out by the Prime Minister’s Office next week to potential attendees. In addition to government officials, industry stakeholders may also be invited to meet with the Tesla CEO.
The Indian government has already relaxed regulations for importing fully built electric vehicles in response to Musk’s plans, paving the way for Tesla’s entry into the Indian market. Furthermore, reports indicate that Tamil Nadu could potentially serve as a manufacturing site for Tesla before Musk’s visit to India. While Tesla is exploring the possibility of establishing an EV plant in India, no final decision has been made yet.
