- The Indian Government says Elon Musk’s Starlink is not a licensee; satellite internet bookings should be avoided
- The Indian government issues a warning to Starlink
- In October, Starlink released a public statement
- The satellite-based Starlink Internet Services are now presold/booked in India through M/s Starlink.
In a Friday statement, the Government of India indicated that Starlink Internet Services was not licensed to offer satellite-based internet services in India and urged the public not to subscribe to the services being provided by the Elon Musk-backed company without a license.
Starlink was also urged to comply with the regulatory framework for satellite-based communication services and refrain from booking/offering satellite internet services in India “with immediate effect” by the Department of Telecom (DoT).
The DoT made clear that a license was needed before the company could offer satellite-based services.
According to the department, it has been notified that Starlink has begun pre-sales/booking for satellite-based StarLink Internet Services in India.
According to DoT, it also appears on the Starlink website, a satellite-based internet service provider in Indian territory, which can be booked.
As stated in the statement, “the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India has pointed out that ‘Starlink Internet Services’ has not been licensed to offer satellite Internet services in India as advertised.”
In India, offering satellite-based services requires a license from the Government.
It is noticed that M/s #Starlink (https://t.co/xscnDS4Cnn) has started pre-selling/booking of #satellite based #Internet Services in India without any #license/authorization.
Public is advised not to subscribe to Starlink services being advertised. #GatiShakti #spacex @SpaceX— DoT India (@DoT_India) November 26, 2021
According to a statement on their website, “It is now informed to the general public that the said company has not been licensed to provide satellite-based internet service,” it stated.
Because Starlink is not a licensed provider, “the public is not advised to subscribe to Starlink’s services,” the letter said.
The announcement by the DoT represents a blow to billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite broadband unit, which has been bullish about its India market plans and already has pre-booked services.
After receiving government approval, the company hopes to start offering broadband in India by December 2022, with 2 lakh active terminals.
Sanjay Bhargava, the Starlink Country Director for India, said earlier that the company’s
pre-orders from India had crossed 5,000, and the company is eager to work with rural areas to provide broadband access. The company’s broadband services will compete with those of Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, as well as Bharti Group-backed OneWeb.
The Government warns Starlink.
As evident from Starlink’s website, which offers satellite-based internet services, the department noted that the company has started preselling the service in India.
Starlink publicly announced the statement in October.
The satellite-based Starlink Internet Services are now presold/booked in India through M/s Starlink. In addition, Starlink’s website allows users in Indian territory to book satellite-based internet services,” according to the Government.
Earlier this month, Starlink India director Sanjay Bhargava announced on LinkedIn that the company had successfully registered its India subsidiary, Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited. It is my pleasure to share that SpaceX now has a 100% owned subsidiary in India.” The company plans to roll out services in 160,000 districts by 2022 across 200,000 active terminals.
Earlier this month, Musk claimed that Starlink would be capable of transferring data at the speed of light. A dish, satellites, and ground stations transmit data in the Starlink network, GizmoChina reported. As a result of the long delay they take to communicate with satellites, these ground stations have proven to hinder fast data transfers.
As a final note, the satellite-based Starlink Internet Services are now presold/booked in India through M/s Starlink. In addition, Starlink’s website allows users in Indian territory to book satellite-based internet services,” according to the Government.
Earlier this month, Starlink India director Sanjay Bhargava announced on LinkedIn that the company had successfully registered its India subsidiary, Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited. Earlier this month, Musk claimed that Starlink would be capable of transferring data at the speed of light. As a result of the long delay they take to communicate with satellites, these ground stations have proven to hinder fast data transfers.
