Starlink faces regulatory challenges in India's broadband market

Starlink, a satellite internet service, started accepting pre-orders in India back in 2021. However, it has faced scrutiny due to a lack of necessary licenses. This situation is reminiscent of Elon Musk's previous ventures in India, where customers paid for products that were not yet available. Concerns about regulatory approvals continue to loom. Major telecom companies Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio were expected to compete with Starlink. Airtel has partnered with Eutelsat OneWeb, while Jio has been exploring its own satellite broadband service. Both companies are set to collaborate with Starlink, claiming the partnership will expand internet access in India. However, skepticism remains about how Starlink will be priced and if it can compete with existing services. In the U.S., Evan Feinman, former director of a broadband program, criticized satellite internet, calling it "worse internet." His comments raise questions about the reliability of satellite technology for rural connectivity. Starlink uses low Earth orbit satellites to deliver internet service, which may not match the affordability of existing broadband services offered by Airtel and Jio. On a different note, Reliance Jio recently launched a new prepaid plan for ₹299 that includes access to JioHotstar for streaming. This comes at a crucial time as the Indian Premier League season approaches. The plan also offers a 50-day free trial for JioFiber and JioAirFiber broadband services. This strategic move aims to attract new customers and increase subscriptions amid rising competition in the telecom space. Airtel is likely to respond with its own offerings soon.