Chinese Satellite Internet to Challenge Starlink in India

Starlink is poised to launch its satellite broadband service in India, with regulatory approval from the government anticipated soon. The company has recently partnered with Jio and Airtel to distribute its equipment across the country. In addition to India, Starlink is expanding its services to various other nations, currently operating in 125 countries with over 7 million users.

However, Starlink may face stiff competition from Chinese satellite broadband providers like SpaceSail, which are also entering markets such as Brazil, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. Elon Musk aims for Starlink to gain at least 1 million new users annually, a target that could accelerate following its launch in India. In the Indian market, Starlink will compete not only with local providers like Airtel and Jio but also with Amazon Kuiper.

The telecom regulator is preparing to allocate spectrum for satellite services, with consultations among stakeholders nearing completion. Starlink has been awaiting service rollout in India since 2022. The high-speed internet service operates through SpaceX satellites in low Earth orbit. Once the necessary regulatory approvals and spectrum allocations are secured, Starlink is set to officially commence operations, especially with its partnerships with Jio and Airtel facilitating a smoother entry.

Meanwhile, the Indian government is intensifying efforts to combat cyber fraud, having blocked over 780,000 SIM cards, more than 3,000 Skype IDs, and over 83,000 WhatsApp accounts as of February this year.