Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Maharashtra Signs India’s First Starlink Pact to Launch Satellite Internet Pilot

A 90-day pilot under a joint working group starts pending central regulatory clearance.

Overview

  • The Letter of Intent was signed in Mumbai by Starlink vice president Lauren Dreyer and state IT secretary Virendra Singh in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
  • Initial deployments will target government institutions and critical infrastructure in remote districts including Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim.
  • The programme prioritises tribal schools, primary health centres, disaster control rooms, coastal and forest outposts, and corridors such as the Samruddhi Expressway.
  • The pilot sets 30-, 60- and 90-day milestones with quarterly reviews chaired by the Chief Minister under the Digital Maharashtra mission.
  • Media reports say Starlink is building multiple Indian gateway stations and that it received a GMPCS licence in June, positioning it alongside Jio and Eutelsat OneWeb.