The state of Meghalaya has inked a deal with Starlink India to enhance connectivity in remote and hard-to-reach areas within the region. This partnership indicates that Starlink services may soon be accessible in the country, following the necessary approvals from the government.
The collaborative agreement between the Meghalaya government and Starlink India aims to deliver high-speed internet access using satellite technology provided by Starlink. Owned by Elon Musk, the company’s objective is to improve digital connectivity in the area and bolster various sectors like education, healthcare, security, and disaster management. Meghalaya has struggled with inconsistent internet connectivity due to its distinctive terrain.
As part of this initiative, the government will test Starlink’s satellite-based high-speed internet in the state. Previously, other state governments and organizations such as the Maharashtra government and Aadhaar’s UIDAI have also joined forces with Starlink to strengthen their digital programs.
On a separate note, the Indian National Space Authorisation and Promotion Centre (IN-SPACe) has officially licensed Starlink, granting permission for Starlink Satellite Communications to utilize its Starlink Gen1 constellation capacity over Indian territory for five years. The company conducted demonstration runs in Mumbai last year to showcase compliance with the necessary security and technical requirements for satellite broadband services in India. Additionally, Starlink has recruited staff for its Bengaluru headquarters in India.
Despite these advancements, the launch of satellite internet services is pending, as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has yet to finalize spectrum pricing for satellite internet and spectrum allocation by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
In a development from December last year, Starlink India briefly displayed pricing information on its Indian website. The page indicated a monthly internet plan cost of Rs 8,600 along with a one-time hardware fee of Rs 34,000. However, Starlink clarified that these figures were test data and not reflective of actual plan costs, affirming that final pricing details will be disclosed post government approval.