Starlink Prepares for India Entry, Viasat Expands Satellite Services with BSNL: Can They Bridge the Divide?

Why Does India Need Satellite Internet Now?

India’s digital economy is set to hit $1 trillion by 2030, per the Ministry of Electronics and IT. Yet, the digital divide remains stark: 50% of India’s 1.4 billion people lack consistent internet, especially in rural areas. Starlink prepares for India entry, Viasat expands satellite services with BSNL to address this gap, offering hope for connectivity in remote regions.

What Is India’s Digital Divide Problem?

Rural India lags behind urban areas in internet access. A 2024 TRAI report notes that only 35% of rural households have broadband, compared to 70% in cities. Terrain challenges—like the Himalayas or Andaman’s islands—make traditional fiber and 4G costly. This limits education, healthcare, and business opportunities, stunting growth.

How Can Satellite Internet Solve These Challenges?

Satellite internet bypasses terrestrial infrastructure, delivering connectivity to remote areas. Starlink’s low-latency broadband and Viasat’s D2D messaging enable real-time applications and communication. For example, a school in Ladakh could stream classes, or a farmer in Odisha could access market data, leveling the playing field.

What Is Starlink’s Strategy for India?

Starlink, a SpaceX venture, is poised to launch in India after receiving a Letter of Intent from the Department of Telecom in May 2025. Partnering with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, it aims to deliver 25–220 Mbps broadband to homes, schools, and businesses, as covered by Startup INIDAX.

How Do Starlink’s LEO Satellites Work?

Starlink’s 42,000+ low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, at 550 km altitude, reduce latency to 20–40 ms, compared to 600+ ms for geostationary satellites. Users need a dish and modem, globally priced at Rs 8,000–20,000. This setup supports video calls, gaming, and IoT, ideal for rural startups.

What Are Starlink’s Partnerships with Jio and Airtel?

Starlink’s tie-ups with Jio and Airtel, announced in March 2025, leverage their distribution networks. Jio will integrate Starlink with JioAirFiber for consumers, while Airtel targets enterprises. Analysts from Moneycontrol estimate Starlink could earn $1 billion annually by capturing 1% of India’s broadband market.

How Is Viasat Scaling Up with BSNL?

Viasat, a US satcom leader, partnered with BSNL to launch D2D services in October 2024, demonstrating satellite-based messaging on standard smartphones. This collaboration, under BSNL’s license, targets rural connectivity and critical sectors like defense and aviation.

What Is Direct-to-Device (D2D) Technology?

D2D lets devices like Android smartphones connect to satellites without extra hardware, using non-terrestrial network (NTN) tech. Viasat’s trial used an L-band geostationary satellite at 36,000 km for two-way messaging and SOS features. “D2D will revolutionize India’s IoT ecosystem,” says Viasat’s CTO, Sandeep Moorthy.

How Does Viasat’s Approach Differ from Starlink?

Viasat’s geostationary satellites offer wider coverage but higher latency (600–800 ms) than Starlink’s LEO system. While Starlink focuses on broadband, Viasat prioritizes D2D for messaging and IoT, serving aviation, maritime, and rural users. Its Inmarsat acquisition bolsters these capabilities.

How Will Startups Benefit from Satellite Internet?

Satellite internet could add $50 billion to India’s startup ecosystem by 2030, per Nasscom. Starlink prepares for India entry, Viasat expands satellite services with BSNL, enabling startups in edtech, healthtech, and agritech to scale into underserved areas.

What Opportunities Await Indian Startups?

• Edtech: Stream classes to remote students, like Unacademy’s rural expansion.
• Healthtech: Enable telemedicine in 4G-less areas, as Apollo Telehealth does.
• Agritech: Monitor crops with IoT, like AgroStar’s farmer solutions.
• Logistics: Reach tier-3 cities, boosting e-commerce startups like Meesho.

Startup INIDAX showcases how connectivity fuels innovation, with startups leveraging satellite tech for growth.

What Challenges Might Startups Face?

Affordability is a concern. Starlink’s global plans cost Rs 4,000–8,700 monthly, potentially straining startup budgets. Viasat’s D2D puck is under Rs 8,000, but subscription costs are unclear. Data privacy risks, especially with Starlink’s global network, also worry experts. Startups must balance costs with scalability.

What’s the Future of Satellite Internet in India?

With Starlink’s licensing nearing completion and Viasat’s D2D scaling, competition from Jio, Airtel, and Amazon’s Kuiper looms. TRAI’s spectrum allocation, expected by December 2025, could lower costs. This could make India a satcom innovation hub, driving startup growth.

Conclusion: Shape India’s Connected Future

Starlink prepares for India entry, Viasat expands satellite services with BSNL, promising to bridge India’s digital divide and empower startups. How will this impact your business? Share your thoughts below, spread the word, or explore more insights on Startup INIDAX!

FAQs

What is Starlink’s India launch plan?
Starlink will offer 25–220 Mbps broadband via LEO satellites, pending final licensing in 2025.

How does Viasat’s D2D service work?
D2D connects smartphones to geostationary satellites for messaging and SOS, no extra hardware needed.

Can startups afford satellite internet?
Starlink’s plans may cost Rs 4,000–8,700 monthly; Viasat’s D2D puck is under Rs 8,000, fees TBD.

How does satellite internet help rural India?
It delivers broadband and messaging to remote areas, boosting education, healthcare, and startups.

What’s the difference between Starlink and Viasat?
Starlink uses LEO for low-latency broadband; Viasat uses geostationary satellites for D2D and IoT.