Elon Musk’s Starlink seeks fresh India approval; says it will help ‘least served’...

Elon Musk’s Starlink has renewed efforts to launch satellite communication services in India. According to a report by Economic Times, the company is resubmitting an application to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN‑SPACe) for approval of its Gen 2 constellation. The new system would operate at altitudes of 340–615 km in low earth orbit and introduce direct‑to‑device (D2D) connectivity, a feature Musk has touted as critical for reaching underserved communities.

What Elon Musk said about Starlink’s India launch

Elon Musk underscored the importance of Starlink’s India push in a recent post on X, saying the service would help the “least served” communities. Replying to a post on X, Musk wrote, ‘Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas.’

Starlink’s second attempt after an earlier rejection

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) had rejected an earlier application from the Elon Musk-owned company for its planned 30,000-satellite internet constellation a few years ago, citing non-conformity in certain features and spectrum bands. According to a person familiar with the details, who spoke on condition of anonymity since the specifics aren't public, the company has now applied for authorisation of its Gen 2 constellation, which would operate at an altitude of 340-615 km in low earth orbit.

Starlink, operated by SpaceX and the world's largest LEO satellite operator, remains bullish on India's satcom market, which industry watchers describe as still nascent but carrying significant long-term potential. The company had originally applied for both Gen 1 and Gen 2 constellations to begin services in India, but IN-SPACe approved only the Gen 1 constellation, comprising 4,408 LEO satellites offering traditional broadband services, in July 2025.

Direct‑to‑device tech imminent

India is considering opening more spectrum bands for satellite communications and allowing D2D features, prompting Starlink’s reapplication. If approved, the Gen 2 constellation could give Starlink a significant edge by enabling mobile connectivity directly to consumer devices, bypassing traditional telecom networks.

Regulatory and security challenges

So far, no non‑geostationary satellite operator — including Starlink, OneWeb, or Jio’s SES joint venture — has launched commercial services in India due to pending security clearances and spectrum allocation. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued pricing recommendations, but the government has yet to finalize rules. Telecom operators have warned that D2D services could threaten their business and have pushed for satellite firms to face the same regulatory obligations.