Starlink faces challenges in India's satellite internet market

Starlink is working to provide internet using satellites in remote areas of India. Many people in small villages and isolated regions have unreliable or no internet. Laying cables and building towers in these areas is too expensive, leaving many without access. Starlink plans to solve this problem by beaming internet from space with thousands of satellites. These satellites orbit about 550 kilometers above Earth, much closer than traditional satellites, which are around 35,000 kilometers away. This closeness helps reduce delays, making Starlink faster than old satellite services. However, it still doesn’t match the speed and reliability of traditional fiber-optic broadband, offered by companies like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Fiber-optic networks can deliver very high speeds, often in the hundreds or thousands of megabits per second. In contrast, Starlink provides speeds between 50 to 200 megabits per second, which are lower, especially during peak times. Still, Starlink can reach areas where fiber cannot. Currently, Starlink has over 7,000 satellites, offering services in North America, Europe, and parts of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The company aims to deploy up to 12,000 satellites, with a vision of expanding to over 30,000 for global internet coverage. However, the service is costly. Customers pay about $120 per month and $349 for the necessary equipment, much higher than fiber services that can be under ₹1,000 a month. Experts note that Starlink is losing money on its equipment due to high manufacturing costs. Some believe that as production increases, prices may decrease in the future. Ajai Chowdhry, a tech industry leader, views Starlink’s partnership with Jio and Airtel as a learning opportunity in the Indian market, not a major threat to these telecom giants. Market analysts agree that while Starlink is interesting, its impact on traditional broadband may be limited. The company is expected to serve niche markets, like remote ships and oil rigs, rather than disrupt major telecom businesses. However, if costs come down, Starlink could become a serious competitor to Jio and Airtel in the future. For now, traditional broadband remains the main choice for most in India, but Starlink could change the landscape of connectivity in the country if it adapts to the local market.