New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with top executives of Elon Musk’s Starlink here on Wednesday to discuss the company’s investment plans for India. “Met a delegation from Starlink, comprising Vice President Chad Gibbs & Senior Director, Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink’s cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships & future investment plans in India,” Goyal said on X after the meeting.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of domestic telecom majors such as Airtel being in touch with the US company for the possible launch of satellite telecom services in India. Vodafone Idea has also said that it is in talks with Starlink to provide satellite communication services in India. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has stated that India needs satellite internet, especially in its rural areas.
The minister is of the view that there are many remote corners of the country where you cannot take fibre or mobile connectivity. Consequently, satellite internet can help ensure 100 per cent coverage. Emphasising the complementary — and not competitive — role played by these services, Scindia said India was committed to offering consumers terrestrial, fibre, as well as satellite communications.
He also highlighted that if natural disasters destroy telecom towers and fibre networks, satellite communications can play a crucial role in filling the gap during an emergency. Starlink is yet to secure a regulatory license to start operations in India and is awaiting the government’s new rules on spectrum pricing.
Scindia has also said that any company can apply for a licence provided it meets the country’s regulations. Starlink is owned by SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk. Starlink is a satellite internet service that aims to provide high-speed internet access to users worldwide. SpaceX is the first private company to have delivered astronauts to and from the International Space Station, It has also completed an all-civilian crew mission to orbit.