According to a report by The Times of India, Elon Musk’s Starlink is expected to receive approval from the telecom ministry to offer its services in India. The report states that a high-level meeting is scheduled for later this month to discuss Starlink’s proposal for a global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) services license.

While the meeting is likely to give approval to the proposal, there may be some last-minute hiccups that could cause delays. It is worth noting that Reliance Jio and OneWeb, led by Sunil Mittal, have already secured the GMPPCS license in India.

In addition to the GMPCS license, Starlink will also have to obtain approval from various government departments, including the Department of Space, before it can begin operations in India. In late 2021, the Telecom Ministry reprimanded Starlink for accepting advance payments from subscribers without the necessary license. The ministry instructed Starlink to refund the money to around 5,000 customers who had pre-ordered its services in India.

Elon Musk has expressed the relevance of Starlink in India, particularly in remote villages that lack internet connectivity or high-speed services. Musk believes that Starlink can be incredibly helpful in bridging the digital divide in these areas.

Starlink has been urging the Indian government not to auction the spectrum but rather assign licenses based on a global trend. The company argues that the spectrum is a natural resource and should be shared by all companies. It believes that an auction with geographical restrictions would increase costs.

Overall, Starlink’s approval to offer its services in India would be a significant development in expanding internet access and bridging the digital divide in the country.