Mumbai, October 30: Elon Musk-led Starlink is set to conduct key demonstration runs in Mumbai on October 30 and 31 to showcase its compliance with India’s stringent security and technical standards for satellite broadband operations, according to sources familiar with the development.
The demonstrations, to be conducted before law enforcement and regulatory authorities, will be based on the provisional spectrum allocated to the company. The trials mark a crucial milestone in Starlink’s journey toward securing final approvals for launching commercial satellite internet services in India.
Officials confirmed that the exercise aims to validate Starlink’s adherence to the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation requirements. The compliance demonstration is one of the final steps before Starlink receives operational clearance to begin offering its services to Indian consumers.
Currently, more than ten satellite operators have established a presence in India’s fast-growing satellite communication (satcom) market, which now allows up to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in the private sector. Among those licensed are Starlink, Reliance Jio-SES JV, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, all of which have received the necessary authorisations to provide satcom connectivity across the country.
Starlink, a division of Musk’s SpaceX, operates the world’s largest constellation of satellites—7,578 in orbit—and aims to deliver high-speed broadband access even in the most remote areas. Its entry is expected to revolutionise India’s connectivity landscape, especially in regions where traditional internet infrastructure remains limited.
The government has underlined that data sovereignty and security will remain top priorities. In August, it mandated that all data, traffic, and user information generated by Starlink’s operations must be stored within India, with no mirroring or transfer of domestic user traffic to servers abroad.
Industry experts believe Starlink’s demonstration comes at a pivotal time for India’s communication sector, as direct-to-cell satellite services—where a satellite directly connects to a mobile device—are poised to expand the nation’s digital reach.
With these upcoming Mumbai demonstrations, Starlink takes a significant step closer to officially entering the Indian broadband market, reinforcing the country’s vision of achieving universal internet access through a mix of terrestrial and satellite networks.
