Overview
- Starlink has started mandatory government security evaluations in India after receiving provisional spectrum to demonstrate compliance, with reports citing a 600 Gbps request on its Gen‑1 constellation.
- Authorities have cleared only about 100 user terminals for fixed‑service trials under strict protocols and prohibited any paid service during testing.
- The company plans nine to ten gateway earth stations nationwide, with three already complete in Mumbai set as the operational hub and additional sites planned in Noida, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chennai and Navi Mumbai.
- Testing conditions require data to be stored in India, gateway operations to be handled by Indian nationals until foreign staff are vetted, and regular reporting of terminal details to the DoT and security agencies.
- Commercial availability hinges on TRAI finalising satellite service pricing and remaining security clearances, with industry reporting a potential phased consumer rollout in 2026 and a retail focus that contrasts with Jio SpaceFiber and Eutelsat OneWeb.