Satellite communications company Starlink, led by US billionaire Elon Musk, is confident of receiving the final government approvals needed to launch services in India, a senior executive said on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The company says it has already built a dedicated infrastructure for the Indian market, with full data localisation and compliance with domestic security requirements.

What Starlink Has Already Built

Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, told attendees at the India Mobile Congress 2026 in New Delhi that the company has invested substantially in ground infrastructure specifically for India. 'We have built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer for India and keeping Indian user data within India. We have already made the investment and built the existing ground infrastructure here — 20 gateway sites comprising hundreds of antennas — and we have established the operations to be ready to serve India,' Dreyer said.

She added that the company has been preparing for the Indian market for the past five years, engaging with regulators and establishing partnerships. Starlink has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with telecom majors Airtel and Jio as part of its market-entry preparation.

Approvals Still Pending

Starlink has already secured clearances from IN-SPACe and holds a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence. What remains are the Indian government's security clearance and approval for foreign direct investment (FDI). Dreyer expressed optimism that these would come through soon. 'Hopefully, next time I address the Congress, the government's work will be complete, and Starlink will be authorised and ready,' she remarked.

The India Opportunity: Bridging the Last Mile

Dreyer acknowledged that India has already achieved connectivity at scale, with affordable data and a rapidly expanding digital economy. However, she identified last-mile connectivity — reaching remote and underserved areas — as the most pressing challenge, and the segment where Starlink can contribute most. 'It's also where Starlink offers the biggest potential to help accelerate the speed to connect 100 per cent of India,' she said.

Dreyer framed the company's ambitions around Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of universal connectivity. 'We are ready to help Prime Minister Modi achieve his vision of 100 per cent connectivity throughout India — a vision all of our company, including Elon, shares,' she said.

Broader India-SpaceX Ties

Dreyer also pointed to the growing strategic relationship between India and SpaceX, highlighting that the company carried Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to and from the International Space Station (ISS) as evidence of deepening bilateral cooperation in space. This comes amid broader efforts by India to attract global satellite operators as it opens up its space economy under revised FDI and licensing norms.

With ground infrastructure in place, key industry partnerships signed, and partial regulatory clearances obtained, Starlink's India launch now hinges on two outstanding government approvals — and the company's tone in New Delhi this week suggests it expects those decisions imminently.