Starlink India LaunchImage Credit Source: FreePik/File Photo
Starlink operated by Allen Musk’s company Spacex has officially launched its high-speed satellite internet service in Sri Lanka. This step is a major milestone towards the expansion of Starlink in South Asia. Earlier, the company has started its services in Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Starlink announced this with its official X (East Twitter) handle, saying, Sri Lanka now has high-speed, low-altency internet available! The service is based on more than 6,750 low-ob-orbit (Leo) satellites, which provides much faster and low-latency internet connection than traditional geostationary satellites.
The picture will change in rural Sri Lanka
This technology is considered very important for developing countries like Sri Lanka, especially in rural and inaccessible areas where internet connectivity has been a big challenge for a long time. The entry of Starlink is expected to get a new pace to education, telemedicine, and local businesses. It is clear that Sri Lanka is very serious about the digital infrastructure.
What is the situation in India?
While neighboring countries are taking advantage of this service, Starlink in India is still facing regulatory hurdles. However, there has been some progress recently. The Government of India has issued a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) license to Starlink. Now only the final permission and spectrum allocation is left from the in-space. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has indicated that Starlink’s service may begin in the next two months, provided safety and data localization conditions are fulfilled.
Starlink price in India
Talking about the price and setup cost of Starlink, the price of Starlink Standard Kit is likely to be around Rs 33,000 (approximately $ 395), including dish antenna, mounting stand, Wi-Fi router, essential cables and power adapters. The monthly subscription fees are expected to be between Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,200 (approximately $ 36 to $ 50).
Starlink price in Sri Lanka
According to the information present on the Starlink website, two types of subscription plans have been brought in Sri Lanka. The first plan is a residential light plan. It is for those who use less data and the house is also small. Such users will be able to take a plan by giving 12 thousand Sri Lankan rupees per month. It is Rs 3425 in Indian rupees. It can also be speculated that Starlink in India can start with a recharge of about three and a half thousand rupees per month.