NEW DELHI: Elon Musk’s Starlink is all set to get a go-ahead to start satellite services in India, with the govt clearing its application for a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, weeks after issuing a letter of intent (LoI) to the company.Starlink was waiting for the licence for the past three-four years and will finally get a go-ahead after it agreed to new conditions laid out by the department of telecom (DoT) and after it paid the fees mandated under the law.
“Starlink’s officials are expected in the national capital over the coming days to sign the papers for the GMPCS licence. The company is in sync with the new licence conditions and various guidelines that are required to begin services in the country,” sources aware of the development told TOI.The issuance of the licence will clear one of the biggest hurdles for the company, especially as this also involves receiving approvals on security aspects by the ministry of home affairs. The govt carried out a detailed vetting of Musk’s satellite company and also stipulated stiff security requirements, including the need to establish methods of interception as well as having a command and control centre in the country.Sources said that after GMPCS licence, Starlink will need approval from IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), which will issue authorisation for its satellites to operate on Indian territory. “The application at IN-SPACe is also at its final leg and should get approval at the inter-ministerial standing committee, which is expected to happen very soon,” another source said.DoT issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Starlink on May 7, which paved the way for the issuance of the GMPCS licence.Govt has also kickstarted the process of finalising rules to allot spectrum to the satcom companies, which, apart from Starlink, also includes the satcom joint ventures and investments of Reliance Jio and Airtel.On May 9, regulator Trai submitted recommendations to DoT on allotment of spectrum and charges that companies need to pay for using airwaves.
