Anticipated Starlink Launch in India: Estimated Cost, Speed, Accessibility, and Additional Details Revealed
Starlink Set to Bring High-Speed Satellite Internet to India
Elon Musk's Starlink is set to revolutionise India's internet landscape, offering satellite internet with download speeds ranging from 25 Mbps to an impressive 220 Mbps. The service, pending final regulatory clearances, is expected to launch late in 2025 or early in 2026.
The service, approved by the Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and IN-SPACe, will be subject to the installation of gateways, spectrum, and network gear. The monthly subscription plans are expected to cost between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,200, while the one-time installation fee for the hardware kit (including dish and router) is estimated to be around Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000.
Starlink aims to provide service primarily in remote and underserved areas where broadband alternatives are limited. The service has been mandated to distribute its hardware through Indian telecom giants like Reliance Jio and Airtel.
The Indian government has capped Starlink's user base at 2 million connections nationwide to protect the existing telecom ecosystem. Each new satellite could potentially offer a massive upgrade for existing Starlink users, with the potential for each satellite to deliver up to 1,000 Gbps capacity per satellite.
Though some earlier reports mentioned plans starting at Rs 850/month, the most recent and consistent confirmed pricing is in the Rs 3,000+ monthly range, paired with the one-time hardware cost. The pricing, if true, may be relatively higher and could potentially not attract people from urban areas. However, it could be a great option for people living in rural and remote parts of India where internet infrastructure is lacking.
According to a report, Starlink could be available in India within the coming months, following the completion of infrastructure collaborations with Indian telecom giants like Jio and Airtel. The official release timeline for Starlink in India is yet to be announced.
With Starlink's entry into the Indian market, India stands to gain a premium satellite internet service, offering wide rural and remote coverage, subject to official release timeline announcements and infrastructure deployment.
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