Starlink finally files proper paperwork to operate in India

Starlink is in the process of procuring clearances for operation in India according to the nation's telecom minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia. Elon Musk's space broadband company has already tried to enter the Indian market, only to be hampered by regulatory barriers. In late 2021 Starlink's local boss bragged that it had signed …

[Paul Herber]

'benefits of Muskband'

Back in the early 70s we had the Expanding Head Band. Nowadays it's more likely to be the Expanding Waist Band.

[Stoic Skeptic]

It will certainly make it more difficult for government to control the conversation.

[Kurgan]

This is the whole point. Once starlink lets the government monitor and censor the communications, then it will be licensed to operate in India.

[MachDiamond]

It didn't work in India

Elon's usual methodology of ramming things in and daring government to apply laws as written to his activities didn't work in India. Now he has to go about it the correct way by filling out the forms and waiting in the queue to get them stamped. Since Starlink is just Wi-Fi writ large and needs defined ground stations to tie into the backbone, the Indian government has an easy job of fitting a tap on the connection to monitor what goes on. They can also require that all Indian subscribers are routed through ground stations in-country or lose their license to operate. That would be painful once they have an installed base.