Meghalaya Govt signs MoU with Starlink to deploy satcom services in remote areas

The Meghalaya government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Elon Musk-led Starlink to pilot satellite communications (satcom) services in the state’s remote areas. Under the partnership, the state government will work with the satcom operator to deploy the satellite broadband service in areas like healthcare, education, and agriculture.

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma in a post on X that the state government is working towards making Shillong into an IT and technology hub in North-East India and build a strong digital ecosystem.

“… Connecting our remotest schools, health centres, and communities remains a challenge. Our partnership to introduce advanced satellite connectivity technology marks an important step toward bridging this gap. This initiative will help save lives through better healthcare access, improve learning opportunities for students, and enhance livelihoods for farmers and rural communities,” said Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma in his post.

The pilot will test whether the technology can reliably deliver high-speed internet across the state before considering a wider rollout. The development comes close on the heels of Maharashtra and Gujarat governments signing similar pacts with Starlink to deploy satcom services in their respective states.

Starlink has received clearance from IN-SPACe to kick start operations in India. It had received similar approvals from the telecom department and TRAI in 2025.

However, the company is yet to start commercial services in the country as it has not been allocated satellite spectrum.