US-based Starlink is planning to establish nine gateway earth stations across India, including locations in Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Lucknow, as it prepares the infrastructure ahead of the commercial rollout of its satellite communication services in the country, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The company has applied for 600 gigabit-per-second capacity over India through its Gen 1 satellite constellation, with the spectrum provisionally assigned for demonstrating security compliance. So far, Starlink has permission to import 100 terminals, limited to testing fixed satellite services. Queries sent to SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, went unanswered at the time of reporting.
To ensure safe operations, stringent security conditions have been imposed. Satellite communication is considered a sensitive sector vulnerable to misuse by anti-national elements, and companies are required to comply fully with security protocols. Starlink had requested to bring in foreign technical experts to operate the stations, but the government has mandated that only Indian nationals may operate them until security clearances for foreign personnel are granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Starlink joins Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by the Bharti group, and Reliance Jio’s satellite venture as the third company authorized to demonstrate security compliance over Indian airwaves. While all three have received permits to launch satellite services, none has yet received full approval from security agencies.
India’s security concerns around Starlink date back to early 2024, when the ministry of home affairs flagged potential misuse of Starlink devices, particularly near border areas. Reports indicate that Starlink devices were seized alongside weapons and ammunition in Manipur in December 2024, and another illegal device was recovered in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Previously dismissive of these concerns, Starlink is now required to adhere to all regulations and provide information requested by security agencies.
Under the provisional spectrum terms, Starlink cannot offer commercial services during these demonstration exercises. Any future spectrum allocation will depend on policy frameworks, authorization mechanisms, and pricing rules in place after the security compliance period ends. Data generated during the compliance phase must be stored within India, and the company must ensure equipment remains secure. Details of all deployed terminals, including location coordinates, must be shared with the Department of Telecommunications and security agencies every fortnight. All law enforcement bodies are entitled to inspect operations and request terminal data.Regulations also require satellite license holders to monitor all traffic, establish gateway stations in India, set up a control and monitoring center, ensure all domestic traffic passes through Indian gateways, and maintain buffer zones along international borders.
