The Maharashtra government officially signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt Ltd (the Indian arm of SpaceX) to bring satellite-based internet services to remote and underserved regions of the state.
This makes Maharashtra the first Indian state to enter a formal collaboration with Starlink.
The agreement aims to extend connectivity to government institutions, rural communities, tribal schools, health centres, forest/costal outposts and “aspirational districts” such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the move as a “giant leap towards a future-ready Maharashtra” and said it supports the “Digital Maharashtra” mission aligned with the national “Digital India” vision.
Why it matters
- Bridging connectivity gaps: Many parts of Maharashtra face connectivity challenges due to difficult terrain, forest cover or simply low infrastructure investment. Satellite-based internet can overcome these physical barriers.
- Strategic first move: Being the first state to partner with Starlink gives Maharashtra a leadership position in next-gen digital infrastructure among Indian states.
- Enabler for public services: Improved connectivity for schools, healthcare centres, disaster-control rooms and government offices means better service delivery in remote regions.
- Boost for state digitisation & resilience: The partnership aligns with multiple state goals — digital inclusion, EV & coastal development, disaster resilience.
- Template for replication: If successful, this model could be rolled-out by other states across India, accelerating satellite internet adoption in remote zones.
Key details & conditions
- The collaboration is formalised through an LoI; full deployment is subject to regulatory and compliance clearances from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and other authorities.
- Starlink already has key approvals: its Gen1 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network has been authorised for India by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) until ~2030.
- Projected service speeds for India: 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps in early phase (for remote/underserved areas) via satellite broadband.
- Estimated hardware/setup cost and monthly plans (general context): Device cost around ₹33,000; monthly unlimited data plan around ₹3,000–₹4,200 (for consumer segment). Deccan Chronicle
Challenges & what to watch
- Regulatory and operational rollout: Even with approvals, setting up ground-stations, gateways, local infrastructure, logistics in remote districts will take time.
- Cost and affordability: Satellite internet tends to be more expensive than traditional broadband; delivering affordable plans in remote areas will be key.
- Quality & reliability in real settings: Remote region conditions (power supply, maintenance, weather, terrain) may affect performance.
- Scaling to users: Initial partnership focuses on institutional/government usage; how quickly consumer/household usage will roll-out remains to be seen.
- Replicability: Whether other states follow and how this model integrates with national digital infrastructure (fibre, 5G, BharatNet) will shape impact.
Bottom line
Maharashtra’s partnership with Starlink marks a milestone in India’s digital infrastructure evolution. By being the first state to tie-up with Elon Musk’s satellite-internet venture, Maharashtra is positioning itself to leapfrog connectivity barriers in its most remote districts. If executed well, this collaboration could significantly advance digital inclusion and serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across India.
