Starlink has built 20 gateway sites comprising hundreds of antennas across India as it prepares to begin satellite broadband services, a senior SpaceX executive said at India Mobile Congress 2026. The company says it has also built India-specific security controls designed to keep Indian users’ data within the country, but commercial services cannot begin until the remaining government approvals are completed.
Starlink Has Built 20 Gateway Sites Across India
Lauren Dreyer, vice president of Starlink Business Operations at SpaceX, said at India Mobile Congress in New Delhi that Starlink has already invested in the ground infrastructure required for its Indian operations.
“We’ve already made the investment and built the existing ground infrastructure here, 20 gateway sites comprising hundreds of antennas,” Dreyer said, adding that Starlink has established operations to serve India.
Gateway sites are an important part of a satellite broadband network because they connect satellites to terrestrial networks. Having these facilities in place means Starlink has moved substantially beyond the initial licensing and planning phase and has already built a significant part of its India-specific ground infrastructure.
However, the infrastructure should not be confused with commercial authorisation. Starlink has not yet started offering satellite broadband services commercially in India.
Starlink Says Indian User Data Will Stay in India
The other significant disclosure concerns data and security.
Dreyer said Starlink had designed its Indian operations specifically around the country’s security requirements and other regulations. She said the company had established controls “at every layer for India” and would keep Indian user data within the country.
This is significant for Starlink’s India entry because satellite communication providers have to meet India’s security and lawful-monitoring requirements as part of the regulatory process.
The company’s statement indicates that Starlink has adapted its network architecture and operational controls for the Indian market rather than simply deploying its global service model unchanged.
The data-localisation statement, however, is Starlink’s representation of its compliance arrangements. It should not be interpreted as confirmation that every regulatory approval has already been granted.
Why Starlink Still Cannot Launch
Starlink already holds the necessary satellite communication licence to prepare for service in India, but the licence by itself does not mean the company can immediately begin commercial operations.
Starlink, along with Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications, has received authorisation to provide satellite communication services. The companies still require spectrum assignment and completion of security-related requirements before commercial services can begin.
Business Standard reported on October 7 that Starlink is still waiting for final Indian clearances. Dreyer said the company is ready to work with the government and other stakeholders and is waiting for the remaining process to be completed.
The company also needs to complete the regulatory process surrounding its satellite constellation and other approvals. Recent reporting has highlighted security clearance and foreign-investment requirements as part of the remaining hurdles.
Spectrum Remains a Separate Requirement
Another important distinction is between Starlink’s ground infrastructure and spectrum access.
The government has chosen administrative allocation as the route for satellite spectrum rather than auctioning the spectrum. The Digital Communications Commission has approved a spectrum usage charge framework, but the wider process still requires the remaining government steps before operators can begin commercial service.
This means Starlink can build gateways, antennas and local operating systems in advance, but those investments do not themselves confer the right to sell satellite connectivity to Indian consumers.
Starlink Has Been Preparing for India for Years
Dreyer said Starlink has spent around five years working with Indian regulators, operators and industry stakeholders to understand the country’s requirements.
The company has also established relationships with Indian telecom operators. Starlink has signed agreements with Airtel and Jio as part of its preparations for the Indian market, according to today’s reporting.
The partnerships could become particularly important if Starlink eventually focuses on areas where traditional terrestrial networks are difficult or expensive to deploy.
Starlink has repeatedly positioned satellite connectivity as a way to address India’s last-mile connectivity challenge, particularly in rural and underserved locations.
Starlink vs Jio and OneWeb
India’s satellite broadband market is shaping up around three licensed players: Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications.
All three have made progress towards commercial operations, but none has yet launched consumer satellite broadband services in India. The competitive picture will therefore depend not only on who receives final clearance first, but also on spectrum costs, service pricing, coverage, capacity and the ability to establish customer terminals at scale.
Starlink’s 20 gateway sites give it a sizeable physical footprint, but the number of gateways alone does not determine the eventual quality or reach of a satellite broadband service.
For consumers, the more important questions will be the final monthly plans, equipment cost, speeds, data policies and availability across rural and urban locations.
What the 20 Gateways Mean for Starlink’s India Launch
The latest disclosure shows that Starlink’s India preparation has moved into a much more advanced stage.
The company says the physical ground infrastructure is already built, hundreds of antennas have been installed and India-specific security controls are in place. The remaining issue is therefore less about whether Starlink has begun building an Indian network and more about completing the regulatory process required to activate commercial services.
Dreyer said Starlink is ready to serve India once the government completes its work.
That makes the next regulatory clearance, rather than another infrastructure announcement, the key milestone to watch for Starlink’s commercial India launch.
