In India, you will finally get to see Starlink and where it seems that it will compete with Jio and Airtel, maybe these people will work together. But there are a lot of questions related to this.
- Will satellite connectivity be successful in India?
- Why hasn’t it come yet?
- What is the status?
- How much will it cost?
- And does it really make value for money for the people of India or not?
What is Starlink?
First of all, let’s talk about Starlink, which is a part of SpaceX, which has already used low-Earth-orbit satellites to provide satellite connectivity at a global level.
Its basic concept was that you just need a dish antenna, a Wi-Fi router, and wherever you are in the world, you can use the internet. And globally, it is already available in many countries and people use it here.
Regulatory, Issues & Delays in India
There were a lot of regulatory issues in India. And one of them was its misuse and use in illegal activities. Because this is something that the government cannot track. Because of which it is necessary to bring it under regulation first. And then get its permission in India.
Government Approvals and Timelines
Now Starlink has started getting approval and license from the government. And after this, they will participate in auctions and trials. After which there will be total compliance for India. That is to say, Starlink has now entered. But still they have to get one or two approvals. In which they will get proper approval from the government and its agency.
If you are thinking that you will start using its internet this year, then it would be difficult to say that it will come this year. You will see this in 2026. That is, you will have to wait for a year. Things don’t run that fast here.
Competition and Collaboration with Jio and Airtel
They are also working in Jio’s own satellite communication. Airtel was partnering with OneWeb here. And the third company that is getting a license here will be Starlink. That is to say, when Jio and Airtel are here, then why is Starlink coming with them? Why didn’t it compete directly with them?
It’s a simple thing. Starlink knows that if it comes to India, it will fail here. But if it comes with backing from a company like Jio and Airtel, then there are more chances of it being successful. Plus, Jio and Airtel already have an infrastructure to work. There are stores. That is, Starlink can sell its product through Jio and Airtel here.
Pricing and Setup Costs
However, there is a lot of speculation in the market about its pricing. So let me tell you about this.
Current speculation says that its setup in the market will be worth Rs 33,000. Yes, it will be worth Rs 33,000, which includes a dish antenna, you get to see a Wi-Fi router. There are two major things. Apart from this, it is said that its pricing here is Rs 3,000-4,000. Some people say that it can be Rs 7,000 per month.
Well, in India, this type of pricing is considered to be very expensive. Because in today’s time, people in India use unlimited internet for Rs 200-300. There are no local internet service providers in India. And since the arrival of Jio’s air fiber in India, the internet has become very cheap here, even the wireless one.
What I mean to say is that when there are already cheap alternatives in the market, why will people go for such expensive alternatives?
Speed and Performance
On top of that, there is another negative thing with Starlink, its speeds.
Today, its speeds are said to be from 25 Mbps to 200-300 Mbps maximum. However, it is important to know one thing that the internet of Starlink is made in such a way that it communicates directly through the satellite. That is, it should be a satellite, there should be a line of sight with your Dishantinak in the middle, and there should be no obstacle in the middle. In that ideal case, it can take 200-250-300 Mbps.
But let me tell you when the problem comes. It can come when there is a cloud here, it rains, the weather gets bad, anything can happen. And when there is a situation like this, then the speed of the internet is also affected.
However, let me tell you one thing that the concept of Starlink is very simple, that you should not need any wire for the internet, wherever you are, you should get the connectivity of the internet.
Final Thoughts
It is worth seeing when Starlink enters India. A few years ago, Starlink started registration for India, but that was also shut down.
What I mean to say is that we are still a little far in this race, and if you look at the global level, Starlink is popular, but still the main stream, which is your wire broadband, or your wireless internet, wireless 5G communication, has not been able to be replaced. It has remained in a niche category, where people need the internet, and the rest of the people are not able to reach. It just fills that gap here.
Let’s see when Starlink comes in the future, what are its prices, how exactly people’s experience is, this will be worth seeing.
