Maharashtra Becomes 1st State to Partner with Starlink for Rural Connectivity

Maharashtra has officially become the first Indian state to sign a partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink for satellite internet, marking a major step in bridging the digital divide across rural and underserved regions. The agreement was formalized on November 5, 2025, through a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in Mumbai.

Key highlights of the partnership

• Historic first: Maharashtra is the first state in India to partner with Starlink, positioning itself as a pioneer in satellite-based connectivity.
• Digital Maharashtra mission: The collaboration supports the state’s flagship initiative to make the state future-ready by expanding internet access to remote communities.
• High-speed, low-latency internet: Starlink’s satellite technology will deliver fast, reliable internet to areas where traditional telecom infrastructure is limited or absent.
• Focus areas:
  • Rural education: e-learning platforms and school connectivity
  • Telemedicine: remote diagnostics and healthcare access
  • Government services: digital governance and citizen services
  • Disaster resilience: coastal development and emergency connectivity

Who was involved

• Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis: Led the signing ceremony, highlighting transformative potential for state development.
• Lauren Dreyer (Starlink VP): Attended the event in Mumbai, underscoring Starlink’s commitment to India.
• Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt Ltd: The Indian arm that signed the LOI.

Strategic implications

• Complementary to telecom: Meant to fill connectivity gaps rather than replace existing providers.
• Digital inclusion: Expected to reduce the digital divide and enable access to education, e-commerce, and government services.
• Global signal: Indicates India’s openness to next-gen satellite internet solutions and may spur other states to follow.

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Broader context

• Last-mile connectivity: Addresses persistent access challenges in rural and tribal regions.
• LEO constellation: Uses low-Earth orbit satellites to leapfrog infrastructure hurdles and accelerate adoption.
• Alignment with DPI: Complements India’s digital public infrastructure like Aadhaar, UPI, and BharatNet.

Summary

Maharashtra’s deal with Starlink is a landmark move that could redefine rural connectivity in India, serving as a test case for integrating satellite internet with national digital strategies.

Elon Musk's Starlink’s ₹840 Internet: Affordable Plans, Pricey Setup

Reports suggest that Starlink may introduce unlimited data plans in India at a promotional price of under ₹840 per month. This aggressive pricing strategy aims to attract a large user base quickly, despite high spectrum and licensing costs.

However, the hardware costs could be a hurdle—Starlink kits are priced between ₹21,300 and ₹32,400, making them significantly more expensive than traditional broadband options in India. While Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES have already secured regulatory approvals, Starlink is still awaiting final clearance from IN-SPACe, India's space regulatory body.

Another challenge is capacity constraints—India's geographic satellite coverage is estimated at only 0.7% to 0.8% of global satellite capacity, meaning only 700 to 800 satellites would cover the country at any given time.

If Starlink manages to overcome these hurdles, it could be a game-changer for rural and remote connectivity in India.

Starlink is still awaiting final approval from IN-SPACe, India’s space regulatory body, before it can officially launch.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed steep fees, including a ₹500 annual urban user charge, a 4% levy on adjusted gross revenue (AGR), and a minimum annual fee of ₹3,500 per MHz of satellite spectrum.

India’s geographic satellite coverage is estimated at only 0.7% to 0.8% of global satellite capacity, meaning only 700 to 800 satellites would cover the country at any given time.

Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES have already secured regulatory approvals and could challenge Starlink’s market entry.

Despite the ₹840 monthly plan, satellite broadband in India is still 7 to 18 times more expensive than conventional fiber broadband services.

Amazon's Satellite Internet Network Set for First Launch

Amazon will launch 27 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit

Amazon is gearing up to launch 27 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit as part of its ambitious Project Kuiper, which aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet worldwide.

Project Kuiper will deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to virtually any location on the planet, and Amazon expects to begin delivering service to customers later this year.

The launch, scheduled for April 9, will take place aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

This marks a major step in Amazon's plan to deploy over 3,200 satellites, competing directly with SpaceX's Starlink, which already has more than 7,000 satellites in orbit. Amazon has secured 80 launch missions with partners like Arianespace, Blue Origin, and even SpaceX to build out its constellation.

To connect to Kuiper’s network, users will need specialized terminal antennas, with Amazon’s smallest dish offering speeds up to 100 Mbps, while larger models will provide speeds up to 1 Gbps.

Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper, said, "We’ve designed some of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, and every launch is an opportunity to add more capacity and coverage to our network."

“We’ve done extensive testing on the ground to prepare for this first mission, but there are some things you can only learn in flight, and this will be the first time we’ve flown our final satellite design and the first time we’ve deployed so many satellites at once. No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years.”, said Badyal.

Over the next few years, Kuiper and ULA teams will conduct seven more Atlas V launches and 38 launches on ULA’s larger Vulcan Centaur rocket. An additional 30-plus launches are planned across our other launch providers: Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.

Eutelsat OneWeb Gets India's Approval for Satellite Broadband Services

Eutelsat OneWeb first to receive approval from Indian space regulator for satellite broadband services

Eutelsat OneWeb has received the necessary authorisations from IN-SPACe to launch its commercial satellite broadband services in India. This authorisation means Eutelsat OneWeb can launch commercial connectivity services as soon as spectrum allocation has been granted by the Indian Government. 

OneWeb India has today received the necessary authorisations from IN-SPACe to launch Eutelsat OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India. OneWeb India is the first organisation to be granted this authorisation.  Eutelsat OneWeb, the low earth orbit operator, is part of Eutelsat Group.

IN-SPACe is the agency of the Government of India, responsible for regulating space activities and granting authorisation for conducting the space activities in the country. This authorisation means Eutelsat OneWeb can launch commercial connectivity services as soon as spectrum allocation has been granted by the Government.

Bharti Group Chairman and Vice-President (Co-Chair) of the Board of Directors of Eutelsat Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said: “We are pleased to note the Indian space regulator’s green light to launch Eutelsat OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India. This will be a critical step forward to meet India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all and will enable the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India. Eutelsat OneWeb is ready to deploy as soon as it receives the final spectrum authorization to launch commercial services.”

Cyril Dujardin, Co-General Manager of Connectivity at Eutelsat Group, said: “Bridging the connectivity gap around the world requires collaboration across business but also with governments and regulators. We are pleased to have received these approvals from the space regulator that bring the country a significant step closer to providing high speed connectivity to even the most remote locations. Having completed our LEO constellation last year, we are perfectly placed to deliver this vital connectivity service to businesses across India.”

This news adds to Eutelsat OneWeb’s existing strong position in the Indian market, where OneWeb India already holds the necessary licences from the Department of Telecommunications to provide broadband services using satellite connectivity. The business has also obtained in principle approval to establish and operate two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which would secure the provision of vital high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to customers across India, once services are rolled out.