Conditional approval for Starlink’s satcom license on the cards

Just ahead of Elon Musk’s upcoming visit to India later this month to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which plans for a Tesla factory are expected to be unveiled, the government may expedite the processing of Starlink’s application for a satcom licence. His company, may receive conditional approval.

An internal committee of the Department of Telecommunications is currently reviewing the Starlink application. The team comprises secretaries from DoT, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, and CEO, NITI Aayog.

Since 2020, prior government approval has been mandated for investments from countries sharing a land border with India. And, foreign investors are required to furnish complete details of their shareholding. Starlink had submitted its application for the GMPCS license in October 2022.

CT Bureau