Starlink India security compliance: Elon Musk’s firm to hold Mumbai demos on Oct 30–31; key step before satellite broadband rollout

Elon Musk-led Starlink is set to conduct demonstration runs in Mumbai on October 30 and 31 to showcase compliance with security and technical conditions for satellite broadband services, according to sources cited by PTI.The demos will be held before law enforcement agencies and are based on the provisional spectrum assigned to Starlink, the sources told PTI.The trials mark a major step in Starlink’s efforts to secure regulatory clearances for its India launch, as the company works toward beginning commercial satellite broadband operations.According to the sources, Starlink will demonstrate adherence to security and technical norms under its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation during the two-day event in Mumbai.On July 31, Starlink received the government’s approval to launch its satellite internet services in India, with a framework for spectrum allocation and gateway setup ready for a smooth rollout, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced.The announcement came on the eve of the 30th anniversary of India’s first cellular call made in 1995 — a symbolic milestone for a sector that has evolved from 2G to 5G and now stands on the brink of a satellite broadband revolution.

“Starlink has been granted a Unified License to launch satellite internet services in India. Frameworks for spectrum allocation and gateway establishment are ready, ensuring smooth rollout,” Scindia said.Alongside Starlink, Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio SES are also awaiting final spectrum allocation to begin offering their satellite communication (satcom) services in the country.According to Scindia, India now has 1.2 billion telephone connections, while internet subscriptions have surged by 286 per cent to reach 970 million. Broadband usage has risen by more than 1,450 per cent, from 60 million users in 2014 to 944 million today.The union minister added that the cost of mobile data has dropped by 96.6 per cent, making India the global leader in affordable data at just Rs 8.9 per GB.