Elon Musk’s Starlink has secured a key regulatory approval from India’s space authority, clearing the way for the launch of its satellite-based broadband services in the country.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has granted official authorisation to Starlink, marking a significant milestone in the company’s entry into one of the world’s largest internet markets. With this approval, Starlink has cleared its final regulatory hurdle before rolling out commercial operations, as per IN-SPACe’s published authorisation list.

Starlink, a division of Musk’s SpaceX, is now expected to launch its affordable satellite internet services across India within the next few months. The company still needs to acquire spectrum from the government and complete ground infrastructure setup. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is expected to provide trial spectrum to Starlink for necessary security compliance demonstrations before the commercial rollout.

Starlink has already entered into commercial agreements with local VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) providers—firms that offer satellite internet and communications in areas lacking reliable terrestrial connectivity.

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had earlier confirmed that all due diligence for Starlink’s entry has been completed by the government. “Once they receive all final regulatory and licensing approvals, they are free to begin operations in India,” he said last week.

Starlink, which delivers high-speed internet via a massive constellation of over 6,750 satellites in low Earth orbit, currently serves countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, among others.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s rival satellite project, Project Kuiper, is also awaiting regulatory clearance from both IN-SPACe and the DoT for its planned satellite communications rollout in India.

As Starlink prepares to debut in India, its entry is expected to transform connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas, making high-speed internet more accessible and affordable.