New Delhi— Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with senior executives from Elon Musk’s Starlink on Wednesday to discuss the company’s potential investment and expansion plans in India.
“Met a delegation from Starlink, comprising Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink’s cutting-edge technology platform, existing partnerships, and future investment plans in India,” Goyal posted on X following the meeting.
The discussions come as Indian telecom giants such as Airtel and Vodafone Idea are reportedly in talks with the U.S.-based satellite internet provider to explore launching satellite-based telecom services in India.
Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has underscored the importance of satellite internet for enhancing connectivity in India’s rural and remote regions. He emphasized that certain areas of the country remain unreachable by traditional fiber or mobile networks, making satellite internet a critical solution for achieving nationwide digital inclusion.
“These services should be seen as complementary rather than competitive,” Scindia said, reiterating India’s commitment to delivering a combination of terrestrial, fiber, and satellite communication options to its citizens.
Scindia also noted that satellite networks could prove vital during emergencies, especially when natural disasters damage terrestrial infrastructure like telecom towers or fiber-optic cables.
Starlink, a division of SpaceX founded by Elon Musk, has not yet received regulatory approval to begin operations in India. The company is currently awaiting the government’s decision on spectrum pricing and licensing regulations.
The minister added that any company willing to operate in India must comply with local regulations and licensing requirements.
Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite-based internet service designed to deliver high-speed internet access across the globe, including underserved and remote areas. SpaceX, also known for its space exploration ventures, was the first private company to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station and has successfully completed an all-civilian orbital mission. (Source: IANS)
