Starlink's Groundwork for India: Nine Gateway Stations Planned

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

SpaceX's ambitious satellite internet service, Starlink, is making strides toward launching operations in India by setting up nine gateway stations in key cities such as Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow. These ground stations are essential in Starlink's strategy to provide satellite internet access across the Indian landscape.

The company is aiming for a capacity of 600 gigabits per second throughout India, using its Gen 1 satellite constellation. This capacity allocation is a provisional step to help demonstrate Starlink’s adherence to stringent national security standards.

Emphasizing Security and Compliance

Considering the sensitive nature of satellite communications, the Indian government has enforced rigorous regulations. Starlink has been provisionally allowed to test its systems using specific radio frequencies and import 100 satellite terminals for initial, non-commercial trials.

Some of the key stipulations include:

• The operations at ground stations will exclusively be managed by Indian nationals until foreign personnel obtain security clearance.

• All test data is mandated to remain within Indian borders.

• Authorities must receive comprehensive updates regarding equipment and operational details regularly.

Starlink joins OneWeb and Jio Satellite as the third company permitted to undertake security-oriented trials. Full commercial services will only be initiated post-approval from security agencies.

Concerns Regarding Illegal Devices

This year, reports emerged of unauthorized Starlink devices appearing in sensitive zones, including Manipur and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Elon Musk refuted these claims, affirming that Starlink signals are currently not active in India.

With these initiatives, Starlink is methodically establishing a foundation for a secure and compliant launch, harmonizing the introduction of satellite internet with India’s security imperatives.