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Maharashtra Becomes First Indian State to Partner With Starlink for Satellite Internet

A CM-led working group will run a 90-day pilot to test service in remote districts before any wider rollout.

Overview

  • The state signed a Letter of Intent with Starlink, with Vice President Lauren Dreyer and IT Secretary Virendra Singh formalizing the pact in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
  • The pilot carries 30-, 60- and 90-day milestones and will undergo quarterly reviews under the Chief Minister’s chairmanship.
  • Initial deployments focus on government institutions and critical sites in districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim, including schools, primary health centres, disaster control rooms and coastal networks.
  • Starlink holds a DoT GMPCS licence granted in June 2025, and service activation remains subject to regulatory and compliance clearances.
  • The company is reported to be building multiple gateway stations in India, targeting a broader commercial launch by early 2026 in a market that also includes Reliance Jio and Eutelsat OneWeb.