Elon Musk's Starlink may cost as low as Rs 840 in India

Elon Musk’s Starlink, which is preparing to launch high-speed satellite internet services in India is expected to introduce unlimited data plans at promotional rates of under $10 (approximately ₹840) per month. It is deemed as a pricing strategy designed to quickly attract a large user base in one of the world’s largest telecom markets.

Affordable services to lure more customers

Despite high spectrum and licensing costs, satellite operators like Starlink are aiming to scale fast by offering affordable services. Experts point out that this approach could help these companies amortize their heavy infrastructure and spectrum investments over a broader customer base. The long-term goal: up to 10 million users in India. 

Elon Musk’s Starlink and other satellite communication providers, including Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Reliance Jio’s joint venture with SES, and Globalstar, are preparing to launch high-speed satellite internet services in India.

TRAI, India’s telecom regulator, has recommended a 4% levy on adjusted gross revenue (AGR), with a minimum annual spectrum fee of ₹3,500 per MHz. On top of that, providers will need to pay an 8% licence fee. In urban areas, operators would pay an additional ₹500 per subscriber per year, though no such fee would apply in rural regions. These recommendations await final government approval.

Despite monthly plans may seem attractive, the upfront cost of Starlink hardware could deter many Indian users. Globally, Starlink kits are priced between $250 and $380 (around ₹21,300 to ₹32,400), which is a significant investment when compared to India’s fibre broadband services, which offer speeds up to 1 Gbps, lower installation costs, and often include bundled OTT subscriptions.