Image courtesy: economictimes.indiatimes.com Elon Musk’s SpaceX has registered a 100 per cent owned subsidy in India, Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (SSCPL), on Monday, November 1. With an on-ground office, the company will now be able to complete the licensing process required to provide broadband and satellite communication facilities in the country.
Starlink is the satellite communications arm of Musk’s Aerospace business and is aimed at launching satellite-based internet services in India with a focus on rural areas in the country.
The announcement was shared by Sanjay Bhagava, Starlink India’s country Director through a post on Linkedin. He wrote, “Pleased to share that SpaceX now has a 100% owned subsidiary in India,” adding that, “The name is SSCPL – Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited and the incorporation date is Nov 1, 2021. We can now start applying for licenses, open bank accounts, etc.”
Starlink joins the range of companies expanding into the satellite communication business to provide low-latency broadband internet services around the world. The satellite clusters launched in the low-Earth orbiting network provides low-latency internet services to a wider coverage area than terrestrial broadband infrastructure.
A filing by the satellite communications company reveals that Starlink will enter the telecommunication services market in India to provide services such as satellite broadband internet, cloud storage and streaming and multi-media communications.
In India, Starlink will endeavour to develop the rural infrastructure through its satellite broadband services. Bhargava had earlier stated in a Linkedin post that the satellite communications firm will initially focus on 10 rural Lok Sabha constituencies.
However, a presentation shared by the Company Director states that once Starlink is authorised by the Indian government to provide services in the country, it will give 100 free devices to schools in Delhi and other rural areas in its proximity during the first phase of its operations. Subsequently, it will target 12 rural districts across India.
The company is also planning on launching wired and wireless communication devices, satellite phones, network equipment and data transmission and reception equipment, among others. Starlink said that more than 5,000 terminals have already been pre-ordered for the country and it aims to make 200,000 active terminals in India by December 2022, 80 per cent of which will be established in rural districts.
