Elon Musk’s Starlink Edges Closer to India Launch with Faster, Affordable Internet Amid Final Security Clearance

Tariq Bhat

Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service by SpaceX, is making headway in its plans to enter India. After a three-and-a-half-year pursuit, the Indian telecom ministry has granted in-principle approval for Starlink to begin operations.

 

 

 

 

 

This approval is significant, but the Ministry of Home Affairs is still reviewing potential security concerns, which has delayed a final licensing decision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once operational, Starlink promises faster and more affordable internet access across India, which could potentially outpace traditional networks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Users typically experience download speeds between 25 and 220 Mbps, with most enjoying speeds above 100 Mbps, and upload speeds ranging from 5 to 20 Mbps. For businesses and high-demand users, the Priority tier plan advertises even faster download speeds up to 220 Mbps and uploads up to 25 Mbps. Latency for Starlink averages around 20ms, comparable to 4G networks.

 

 

 

 

 

However, as with all satellite-based internet services, Starlink’s signal strength can be impacted by adverse weather conditions. Factors like heavy rain, snow, and thick cloud cover can interfere with connectivity, sometimes leading to interruptions. While these potential disruptions exist, the promise of high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas in India has generated considerable interest.