Elon Musk News / When will Musk's Starlink get the license, the Union Minister gave this big update

Elon Musk News: Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday shared important information about the licensing process of Elon Musk's company Starlink in India. He clarified that Starlink will get a license for Indian satellite communication service only when it fully complies with the country's security standards and rules. According to Scindia, Starlink is going through the necessary processes to provide satellite internet service and will be licensed only after meeting all the necessary criteria.

Starlink will have to follow security standards

Scindia, while emphasizing the importance of security, said, "Starlink will have to follow all the rules to get the license. You also have to look at it from a security perspective." This statement makes it clear that the government will not give any concession in ensuring compliance with stringent security standards for any satellite communication company. Currently, licenses have been issued to Bharti Group-backed OneWeb and Reliance Jio's joint venture Jio Satellite Communications, while Starlink is yet to get this approval.

Waiting for TRAI's recommendations on spectrum allocation

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is currently working on the rules related to spectrum allocation for satellite communication. According to sources, TRAI can finalize its recommendations by December 15. After this, the government will review these recommendations, on the basis of which the decision to allocate spectrum to satellite communication companies will be taken. This move can prove to be an important milestone for the launch of satellite-based broadband services in India.

Companies like OneWeb and Jio-SES have already got the license, but these companies are also waiting for the spectrum allocation process to be completed. Once the spectrum is allocated, these companies can launch satellite internet services in the country, which will enable better access to the Internet in Indian rural and remote areas.

Government's position on Vodafone Idea's bank guarantee

Regarding Vodafone Idea's request to waive bank guarantee of Rs 24,700 crore, Scindia said that the government will not take any specific decision regarding any particular company. Rather, it will keep in mind how its decision will have an overall impact on the telecom sector. Scindia said that the telecom sector has got a lot of boost in the last two and a half years, and the government's focus is on maintaining competition and growth in the sector.

The government has about 23 percent stake in Vodafone Idea, but Scindia's statement makes it clear that the government's priority is to keep the entire telecom sector stable and developed, and not to benefit any particular company.

Towards the future of satellite broadband

It is clear from Scindia's statement that India is moving strongly towards satellite broadband services, but for this every company will have to follow security and regulatory standards. The entry of companies like Starlink in India will expand internet access in rural areas, where traditional telecom services have not reached.

TRAI's recommendations and the decision to allocate spectrum will be the next steps in this direction, which will pave the way for satellite internet services in India.