New Delhi, November 11, 2024 - Starlink's application for a satellite broadband services license in India is progressing after an agreement with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to comply with data localization and security requirements.
Data security guidelines mandate that satellite communications companies must store all data within India. Starlink has yet to submit the necessary agreements, which must also demonstrate how intelligence agencies can access data if required.
The company’s 2022 application for the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite Services (GMPCS) license is a preliminary step towards obtaining trial spectrum. Additionally, Starlink has sought authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), which is now advancing.
Service initiation is contingent upon the government establishing pricing and spectrum allocation rules, expected to follow the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)'s recommendations by the end of December.
Starlink, along with Jeff Bezos' Kuiper, faces competition from major telecom operators such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, which have raised concerns regarding spectrum allocation. These operators argue that only auctioned satellite spectrum should be available for retail consumers, as they acquired theirs through auctions.
In response, Starlink contends that terrestrial telecom services and satellite communications are inherently different, advocating for administrative allocation of spectrum, similar to the sharing of 5G mobile spectrum among telecom companies.