Particle.news
Download on the App Store

India Sets Tight Security Terms as Starlink Preps Early-2026 Launch

Provisional testing is allowed under a requirement that only Indian nationals run gateway stations until foreign staff receive security clearance.

Overview

  • The Telecom Department allowed Starlink to import 100 terminals solely for trials, with safeguards to deter misuse.
  • Spectrum has been assigned on a provisional basis to let the company demonstrate security compliance before full authorization.
  • Gateway earth stations are planned at nine Indian sites, and only Indian nationals may operate them until the Home Ministry clears foreign staff.
  • The company has applied for about 600 Gbps of Gen 1 capacity over India and must route all India traffic through domestic gateways with local data storage during trials.
  • India has capped connections at 2,000,000, and reports point to a roughly Rs 30,000 setup fee, plans from about Rs 3,300 a month, and a tentative January–February 2026 start pending SATCOM and spectrum approvals.