Elon Musk-Led SpaceX Starlink Gets Final Regulatory Approval For Launch In India: Report

Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing three sources, that Starlink has cleared the only remaining regulatory hurdle for the satellite provider to enter the market.

Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s satellite internet division, Starlink, has reportedly received a license from India's space regulator to launch commercial operations in the country.

Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing three sources, that Starlink has cleared the only remaining regulatory hurdle for the satellite provider to enter the market.

Starlink has been waiting since 2022 for a license to operate in India. It had been awaiting approvals from the country’s space department after receiving a key license from India’s telecom ministry last month.

The SpaceX segment will now need to secure spectrum from the government, set up ground infrastructure, and also demonstrate through testing and trials that it meets the security rules it has signed up for, the report said.

Starlink is currently in use in over 140 countries, territories, and markets worldwide, spanning all seven continents. The company has more than 6 million users and counting.

The Starlink network is designed, owned, and operated by SpaceX. According to data from astronomer Jonathan McDowell, SpaceX has launched over 9000 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit to date to provide service.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources, that SpaceX is discussing plans to raise capital and sell insider shares in a deal that would value the launch services provider at around $400 billion.

SpaceX is privately held, unlike Musk’s Tesla. Speaking at an address at the Qatar Economic Forum in May, the billionaire said that Starlink may go public at some point in the future, without detailing a timeline. Musk also added that he is in no rush to go public, implying that it is not an immediate priority.

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