Mumbai, June 7: Elon Musk’s Starlink has got licence for satcom services in India, according to sources.Starlink is the third company to secure the licence from the Department of Telecom (DoT).
DoT sources confirmed that Starlink has indeed received licence, and said they will be granted trial spectrum in 15-20 days of applying for it.
Starlink will now have to comply with the security norms such as providing access for lawful interception, before starting services.
The licence came hours after a huge public spat between Mr. Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump. The falling-out between the world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful person began when Musk, who left his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency a week ago, denounced Mr. Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill.
On Thursday, it erupted in the verbal duel after Mr. Trump criticised Musk in the Oval Office. Musk responded, saying, “Trump would have lost” without his help, prompting the U.S. President to end U.S. contracts.
The licence from DoT came nearly a month after the Starlink was issued a letter of intent (LoI) by the telecom department.
The companies that have received the licence would, however, have to a wait a tad longer for commercial satcom spectrum as the Trai just recently sent its recommendations on pricing, and terms and conditions, to the government for its consideration.
The players will be able to start their services after the allocation of radio wave frequencies.
Typically, even before the commercial spectrum, the trial spectrum is required to test, and verify the systems and processes on security parameters to demonstrate that all norms and requirements, are being complied with.
The status of the Starlink’s final nod from the Indian space regulator, In-SPACe could not be immediately ascertained.