Elon Musk Starlink: Alan Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink is now very close to stepping into India. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in an interview recently that the company may get the necessary government approval to start operations in India soon. He informed that the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) has already issued a letter of intent (Loi) ie Starlink. Now the company is waiting for the green signal for final approval from the IN-Space (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center).
License process in final stage
According to the Union Minister of Communications, before starting any satellite-based internet service in India, it is mandatory for all companies to get permission from IN-Space. Currently, Onweb and Reliance Jio have such licenses. Starlink is now going to be the next company in this line. He said, “Starlink’s licensing process is almost complete and Loi is released. He is expected to get approval soon.”
Trial and spectrum tests will start soon
Onweb and Reliance were given limited spectrum allocation for their pilot projects. A similar trial can be allowed after Starlink gets a license. Subsequently, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) will create a structure of spectrum distribution for commercial use of this service.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper also ready to enter India
Apart from Starlink, Amazon -backed Project Kuiper is also planning to introduce satellite internet services in India. According to sources, the company is preparing to set up two POPs (Points of Presence) and 10 satellite gateways in Mumbai and Chennai. Kuiper has also written a letter to DOT and appealed to release Loi soon for GMPCS License by Satellite. This letter was sent to Starlink before the Loi was released in early May.
TRAI set new charge on satellite spectrum
Recently, TRAI has fixed spectrum charge for satellite companies. According to this, all SATCOM operators will have to pay 4% of their gross adjusted revenue (AGR) as spectrum fee. Along with this, an additional fee of Rs 500 per user will also be charged for urban consumers, while this exemption has been given for rural areas. At the same time, all satellite operators will also have to pay a license fee of 8%.
Subsidy recommendation for rural India
TRAI has suggested that higher prices of satellite terminal devices (between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000) can be an obstacle in adopting service in rural areas. Therefore, there should be a provision of subsidy in these areas. However, COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India) has objected to TRAI’s proposals. He says that the fees fixed for satellite services are much less than the traditional mobile network, which can create an imbalance.
Starlink will give unlimited internet for Rs 840
Alan Musk’s company SpaceX is going to start its starlink satellite internet service in India at a very affordable price. According to a media report, Starlink can offer a plan with an unlimited data for about 840 rupees ($ 10) every month under its initial promotional offer.
Target to reach millions of users in India
Many satellite internet companies, including Starlink, aim is to rapidly create a userbase in a big market like India. In the coming few years, they aim to reach more than 1 crore customers. With this, they will also be able to make up for their expensive spectrum expenses.
TRAI recently recommended that 500 rupees per user for satellite internet in urban areas should be charged annually. This makes this service more expensive than traditional mobile and broadband networks. However, experts believe that the financially strong company like Starlink will not be particularly difficult to establish itself in India’s competitive market despite this premium price.
Satellite internet: still expensive options
Recent studies have revealed that the cost of satellite broadband in India is still 7 to 18 times more than domestic fiber internet. According to IIFL, the number of satellites covering India is only 0.7% to 0.8% compared to the whole world – which can be considered less in proportion to the area’s area.
How does Starlink Internet work?
Starlink satellites provide high-speed, low-latency internet to the user directly from the earth’s class. The time taken to transport the data from one place to another, which is important in tasks like gaming or video calls.
What do you get in the starlink kit
- A particular Starlink dish
- Wi-fi router
- Power cables
- And a mounting tripod
It is necessary to apply this dish under the open sky so that the signal can be found without obstruction. In addition, Starlink’s app for setup and monitoring is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
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