Union Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar indicated that Elon Musk’s satellite internet initiative, Starlink, will be capped at serving 20 lakh users across India and won’t exceed a speed of 200 Mbps. The minister’s statement came amid concerns about the extent of impact Starlink’s satellite communication services may have on India’s established telecom ecosystem.
“Starlink can have only 20 lakh customers in India and offer up to 200 Mbps speed. That won’t affect telecom services,” said Sekhar on the sidelines of a Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) review meeting. He assured stakeholders that the arrival of Starlink would not significantly jeopardize existing players with the direct intention of alleviating concerns from state-run BSNL.
Government officials have stated that the limitation on Starlink connections relates to the ongoing capacity of the company, rather than a policy or regulatory restriction. The minister also noted that the high service charges will limit the use of Starlink in this case. “The upfront cost for satcom services will be too high, and the monthly cost may be around ₹3,000,” Sekhar said.
Based on these price matters, Starlink will likely remain a niche offering targeting rural and remote areas without conventional broadband infrastructure; areas where BSNL already has a major presence. The government is now moving forward quickly with rules around satcom spectrum allocation, which will assist with an effective regulation system.
Sekhar also stated at the same meeting that BSNL has completed its nationwide 4G rollout and will focus on growing market share first instead of increasing tariffs. “We want the market first. There are no tariff hikes planned,” he noted, indicating the state operator’s plan to sustain accessible prices within areas they could face new competition from the satcom.
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