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After years of waiting, India may soon benefit from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network. Starlink has made the internet accessible to even the most remote parts of the world, providing crucial internet connectivity in remote areas, war-torn regions, and places affected by natural disasters.

While Starlink is currently available in nearly 32 countries, users in India have been unable to access its services. However, according to a report by the New Indian Express, officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will meet on September 22 to discuss whether to award SpaceX’s satellite internet service the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license.

This license would allow Starlink to offer broadband services in India. Currently, Bharti Airtel in partnership with OneWeb is the only company that has been awarded the GMPCS license, although there were reports last year that Jio-owned Jio Space Technology company had also obtained the license.

To enter the Indian market, Starlink has been trying to obtain the necessary license and regulatory approvals. The company even started taking preorders in 2021 without having a license, but was warned by the DoT to refrain from doing so and issued refunds to customers. Currently, Starlink’s website states that it is not available in India and is still awaiting regulatory approval.

In addition, the report also mentions that officials are considering bringing over-the-top (OTT) apps under licensing rules. This move is driven by concerns about user safety and the payment of licensing fees. Bringing OTT apps under the licensing regime would allow the government to direct these apps to stop their services in case of any incidents without disrupting the entire internet.

Overall, the potential availability of Starlink in India would bring much-needed internet connectivity to the country, especially in remote and underserved areas, and highlight the need for regulations regarding OTT apps for user safety and government control.

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