Starlink Ready for Early 2027 India Rollout, Awaits Spectrum and Security Clearances

New Delhi: Elon Musk-led satellite communication (Satcom) firm Starlink is expected to launch its much-awaited pan-India service by early next year. The company is hopeful that it will provide its commercial satellite broadband services across the country soon, as the company is standing ready to serve India once India is ready, a top company official said on Wednesday.

“We’re ready to work with the government, operators and industry as the company has set up 20 gateway sites in India and will keep Indian user data within the country,” a top SpaceX official said as the company waits for spectrum and final security clearance to begin its services.

Earlier on Wednesday, Lauren Dreyer, vice president of Starlink Business Operations, SpaceX said in a post on X, “We've already made the investment and built the existing ground infrastructure here-20 gateway sites comprising hundreds of antennas and we've established the operations to be ready to serve India.”

While speaking at India Mobile Congress 2026 here, Dreyer reiterated that the company has made an investment in setting up the required infrastructure to serve the Indian market. “We've built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer for India, and keeping Indian user data within India," she said.

The government has granted licences to three companies, including Starlink, to provide satellite communication services in India. However, the satcom companies need spectrum and security clearance to start their services soon.

Gateways are ground stations that link satellites to the terrestrial internet. Under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Ministry of Communications, security conditions for satcom operators, network traffic, and monitoring systems have to be located in India.

Dreyer also said that Starlink had worked with Indian regulators, industry and operators for five years. “We’re standing ready to serve India once India is ready. We’re ready to work with the government, ready to work with operators, ready to work with industry to this end,” she said.

She further said that the company had signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Airtel and Jio, and was working with state governments to listen and learn how Starlink might be able to best serve their communities once it’s authorised.

“Starlink has 11,000 satellites in orbit and operates in over 170 countries. The last mile remains, and it’s the most challenging to connect. With Starlink, people can get connected within minutes, not years,” she added.