Starlink kicks off its India operations: Price, expected release date, speeds, and more

starlink

Elon Musk's satellite internet startup, Starlink, has started setting up its network in key Indian cities, marking one of the final steps before launching its commercial broadband services. The internet service, operated by SpaceX, aims to provide fast, reliable internet through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites and aims to offer internet connectivity to rural and underserved areas where traditional broadband struggles to reach.

Starlink India: Expected release date, availability, price

According to a report by the Economic Times, Starlink has planned for various gateway stations, which will be set up at nine places across India, including Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Lucknow. With approvals almost complete and infrastructure work in progress, Starlink aims to bring fast and reliable satellite-based Internet connection to all parts of India, including remote rural areas.

Furthermore, as reported by Bloomberg, once the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) finalises pricing guidelines for satellite services in the country, Starlink's satellite internet service is expected to commence operations in India by January or February 2026. As for the pricing, these reports suggest that Starlink satellite internet could have a one-time setup cost of Rs 30,000 or more, with subscription prices reportedly starting from Rs 3,300 per month.

Moreover, it can be expected that entry-level plans will be offering 25Mbps speed, and the high-end plan could offer 225Mbps speed for the users. These subscription plans may seem costly compared to regular broadband prices in India; however, they will come with the advantage of high-speed, low-latency internet in areas with limited connectivity. With Starlink, we could also see a major boost in internet penetration in all parts of India, especially in areas where fibre-optic infrastructure is hard to install.