By next week, Elon Musk’s satellite communication service provider, StarLink, is likely to get the government’s approval for a setup in India. On the contrary, Mukesh Ambani-Led Jio Satellite Communications and Sunil Bharti-Led One Web are already owners of such licences in India.
According to several media houses, the decision came after Elon Musk went on for a clarification with the Department for Promotion of Industry and International Trade (DPIIT), to seek clarifications about the shareholding pattern.
Starlink replied to the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, and in the next few days or by the end of this month, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) may issue a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Starlink.” according to a report published by ET Telecom.
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On the other hand, a report suggests that DOT, abbreviated as the Department of Telecommunications, can issue a letter of intent to Elon Musk’s Starlink as early as Wednesday.
The reports added that the much-sought department, the Department of Telecommunications, is preparing a letter of intent while progressing for approval from telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal and communications secretary Ashwini Vaishnaw. Besides, soon after the approval, the Satellite Communication Wing will also be obliged to give a nod to StarLink.
Besides, both of the officials are currently not in India; Ashwini Vaishnaw is in Davos for the World Economic Forum while Mittal is attending the PanIIT 2024 event.
Starlink in India
The Elon Musk-owned satellite communication service provider requested a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) licence in 2022. Only after it receives the licence, it will become the third one to achieve the licence, Reliance Jio and OneWeb being the former. Soon after approval from GMPCS, Starlink can offer messaging services, voice services, and broadband to individuals and organisations in India.
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