New Delhi: India’s satellite internet story is picking up pace, and state governments are moving faster than many expected. After Maharashtra, Gujarat has now stepped in to tie up with Elon Musk’s Starlink, signalling a growing push to improve internet access beyond cities and industrial zones.
For people living in remote belts, patchy mobile signals and slow broadband are still part of daily life. This latest move by Gujarat shows how states are looking at satellite internet as a practical solution, not a future experiment.
Gujarat signs letter of intent with Starlink
According to a Reuters report, Gujarat said on Monday that it has signed a letter of intent with Starlink, the satellite internet arm backed by Elon Musk. The agreement focuses on providing high speed, satellite based internet connectivity across remote and underserved regions of the state.
The Gujarat government said the aim is to use satellite connectivity to bridge digital gaps in areas where laying fibre or expanding mobile towers remains difficult. This includes border regions, rural districts, and sparsely populated zones.
Maharashtra was the first mover
Before Gujarat, Maharashtra became the first Indian state to formally partner with Starlink. The Maharashtra government signed a letter of intent with Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt Ltd on November 5, 2025. The focus there is also on bringing satellite based internet to rural and underserved regions.
With two major states now on board, the momentum around satellite broadband is clearly building at the state level.
India launch and regulatory status
Elon Musk has earlier described India as a strategically important market for Starlink. He has said the service can play a key role in connecting remote and underserved regions. Musk has also proposed setting up several ground stations in the country before a full scale rollout.
At the central level, the Government of India has already granted Starlink approvals under GMPCS, VSAT, and ISP categories. Discussions between Starlink and the Indian government are still ongoing. Once the remaining technical and regulatory steps are cleared, a wider launch is expected.