Starlink India Unlimited Satellite Internet

Starlink India Unlimited Satellite Internet ₹840 Plans IN-SPACe Approval

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Starlink India Unlimited Satellite Internet: People of India are going to get satellite internet soon. Many satellite communications firms including Elon Musk’s Starlink are expected to start their services in India within a few days. According to media report by The, these companies will launch promotional unlimited data plans priced at less than $10 per month, which roughly translates to Rs 840.

Starlink India Unlimited Satellite Internet
Starlink India Unlimited Satellite Internet

However, Starlink is awaiting approval from IN-SPACe to start services in India. The target of satellite communications companies, including Starlink is to rapidly increase their user base. It can reach 10 million or 1 crore customers in the mid-to-long term. This will help companies to recoup the huge spectrum cost.
Spectrum is expensive, but Starlink has no problem.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended that satellite communications companies keep the monthly charge for urban users at ₹ 500. This makes satellite communications spectrum more expensive than traditional terrestrial services. According to reports, experts believe that due to premium pricing, financially strong companies like Starlink will have no problem competing with other companies in India’s urban market.

Ashwinder Sethi, partner at global TMT consulting firm Analysis Mason, said, ‘Despite high spectrum fees and license fees, satcom companies including Starlink are expected to launch plans at low prices in India. These companies can launch their satellite data plans at a price of less than $10. This is so that the companies can get a good response and their fixed cost (initial capex) can be improved due to the large customer base.

TRAI: Revenue Share & Licenses

  • TRAI’s recommendations include a 4% fee on Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) and a minimum annual fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz of spectrum. Apart from this, satellite communication providers will have to pay an 8% license fee for providing commercial services.
  • All the proposals await final government approval before they can be implemented. Despite these price points, experts believe limited satellite capacity could hamper the ability of the Indian user base to grow rapidly.

Capacity Crunch Predicted by IIFL

According to IIFL Research, Starlink’s current constellation of 7,000 satellites serves about 4 million users globally. The report states that even with 18,000 satellites, Starlink will be able to provide services to only 1.5 million Indian customers by FY 2030.

IIFL Research said, ‘Lack of capacity can prove to be a challenge in terms of increasing the number of customers. It can also reduce the effectiveness of low-cost tools to add customers. The report said that Starlink had previously stopped adding customers in parts of the US and Africa due to similar capacity limits.

Currently, satellite-based broadband is much more expensive than traditional home broadband services in India. JM Financial states that satellite broadband costs 7 to 18 times more than standard home internet plans.

Starlink awaits IN-SPACe approval: After the approval of the Department of Telecommunications for satellite communication services, Starlink is now waiting for approval from IN-SPACe to start services in India.
Earlier, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications had acquired similar licences in 2021 and 2022, but had waited nearly two years for IN-SPACe approval.

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