Maharashtra becomes 1st Indian state to partner with Musk's Starlink
What's the story
In a major development, the Maharashtra government has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Elon Musk's Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt Ltd. The deal marks Maharashtra as the first Indian state to collaborate with Starlink for satellite-based internet services. The services will be provided to government institutions, rural communities, and critical public infrastructure in remote and underserved regions of the state.
Service coverage
Services to cover aspirational districts
The Starlink services will cover aspirational districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim, and Dharashiv. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the partnership on X, calling it a "BIG NEWS!" He described Starlink as one of the largest companies in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry with the most communication satellites in the world.
Mission support
Integration into state's EV, coastal development programs
The partnership with Starlink also supports Maharashtra's flagship Digital Maharashtra mission. It will be integrated into the state's electric vehicle (EV), coastal development, and disaster resilience programs. Fadnavis said this landmark decision would make Maharashtra a leader in satellite-enabled digital infrastructure in India. He called it a major step toward a future-ready Maharashtra and setting a benchmark for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India mission at the grassroots level.
License approval
DoT grants GMPCS license to Starlink
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had granted Starlink the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license in June. The approval came after the company met all security conditions mentioned in its letter of intent. This makes Starlink the third satcom company, after Eutelsat's OneWeb and Reliance Jio, to get a GMPCS license for operations in India.