Starlink in India is now a matter of when, not if

Starlink from Elon Musk received the expected approval of the country in India, and opened the door to enter the second largest internet market in the world after China-after three years of Spacex Former attempt The release of the broadcast based satellite in the country in the end.

On Wednesday, the Indian Ministry of Communications gave its gesture to Starlink to start working to comply with it in the country of South Asia, and a senior official emphasized Techcrunch.

Starlink will now have to submit documents showing that they are compatible with licensing requirements. Earlier this week, New Delhi published her rules (PDF) for global mobile phone communications operators by Satellite (GMPCS) to put clear safety guidelines, including Starlink, Amazon’s Kuper and others.

Some of these rules will help the content of the Indian government control and interception of traffic, just as it can do with ground network operators, and restrict access to the user station “from outside the geographical coverage area and/or through a gate outside India.” Satellite companies need compliance with them to work in the country.

Spacex will also need a permit from the space organizer in India, the Indian National Space Promotion Center (in space), to enable satellite -based communication services.

It will take to start the official Starlink connection in India from six to nine months, for every person familiar with it.

However, this last step is a welcome gesture from the Indian government to Musk, which was looking to launch Starlink in the country for some time to expand the user base. India’s population is more than 1.4 billion people, but only About 950 million subscribers on the InternetMake a confusing market for Starlink or any other company that sells the internet connection with a different approach.

Approval comes about two months after Indian telecommunications companies AIRTEL and Dependence Geo They announced their partnerships with Spacex to launch a high -speed internet service from Starlink in the country. However, the operating plan was not clear through these partnerships, as Starlink needed independent organizational approvals.

In 2022, SpaceX was reprimanded to launch Starlink services in India without obtaining the necessary licenses. Company I had to recover its premises After the government summoned “reservation/submission of satellite internet service” before obtaining the necessary licenses.

However, the environment has changed for Starlink now, thanks to Musk’s documentary relationships with Trump. And according to what was starlink It is used as a luxury tool for countries that are preparing for commercial talks With the United States

Last month, the Indian Minister of Trade Puish Joyal He met Starlink executivesIncluding India, headed by Parlil Urdhwareshe, in his desk in New Delhi. This was two months after a meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Musk in the United States Musk also recently Declared plans to visit India this year. The visit can be an opportunity for billionaire to oversee progress Tesla India operationsSince Ev Carmaker is also looking for the world’s most populated countries – as well as Starlink.

After saying this, Starlink is likely to face a local and international competition in the country’s satellite space, such as OnewebThat is in partnership with Aartel, it already has approval from space in space, and JIO SpacefiberIt is a joint project between Reliance JIO and SES, with approvals from both DOT and In-SPace. Amazon is also looking for approvals Start its service When you are ready.

The Indian government still should also share the details about the spectrum that it will allocate to the Internet via satellite companies. In late 2023, the government enabled the spectrum to allocate satellite services through specific fees by Submit a new contact bill. However, the accurate requirements and fees that will be imposed have not yet been announced.

Spacex did not respond to the suspension request.