New Delhi:
Donald Trump’s victory speech after his landslide victory in the US election was full of praise for SpaceX CEO and X-Boss Elon Musk. Describing Musk as an “awesome guy” and a “super genius,” the 78-year-old Republican leader mentioned SpaceX Starlink, the telecom giant known for its ability to provide Internet connectivity to remote corners of the Earth using satellite constellation technology. The president-elect talked about how Starlink proved to be a lifesaver after Hurricane Helen hit parts of the US earlier this year.
Back in India, Musk’s closeness to Trump and the US president’s high praise for the SpaceX founder has created a buzz – is Starlink coming here? Musk has been trying to enter the Indian space for some time, but the regulatory structure here has proved to be an obstacle. With the Indian government’s recent announcement on how to allocate satellite spectrum and the Trump administration’s possible plan to back up Musk, Starlink’s entry could be a matter of time.
What’s different about Starlink
Starlink uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed Internet connectivity. Satellites beam Internet data via radio signals. Ground stations transmit signals to orbiting satellites and they send data back to users. This form of Internet service does not require overhead or underground wires stretched for miles. This may not make a big difference in urban areas where traditional broadband internet is available and users have many options to choose from. Starlink scores in remote areas where traditional services such as optical fiber are difficult and therefore unavailable. Launched in 2019, Starlink already has over 4 million users worldwide. In a country like India, such a service could prove a game-changer in addressing the digital divide.
Starlink’s India push
Elon Musk is trying to push Starlink into the Indian market from 2021. SpaceX had started inviting pre-orders before the Center intervened and asked the company to meet regulatory requirements first. “To provide satellite based services in India, requisite license(s) are required from the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. It is hereby notified to the general public that the said company has not obtained any licence/rights to render satellite.-based internet services which are being booked on their website, The government urged SpaceX to comply with the country’s regulatory framework.
However, recent developments have given rise to hope. Last month, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that spectrum for satellite services would be allocated administratively and the cost would be determined by the telecom regulator. Musk welcomed the announcement and said SpaceX would do its best to “serve the people of India with Starlink”.
Home players
If the government’s new stance makes it easier for global players like Starlink to provide satellite internet in India, it will set the stage for fierce competition from domestic players, mainly Mukesh Ambani’s Jio and Sunil Bharti Mittal’s Airtel.
Jio has insisted that the government should allocate spectrum through auctions to create a level playing field. Mittal also said that satellite companies with urban ambitions should buy spectrum like telecom companies.
According to reports, Starlink has told regulator Trai that Indian telecom companies are lobbying for fair pricing for its system and increased rates for others. It argues that domestic players have their own business models, not with the interests of underserved communities in mind.
Indian telecom firms, however, argue that the rural connectivity plank is used by global players to get favorable terms for spectrum and they will soon push to expand into urban areas, competing directly with local service providers.