/sci/ - Science & Math

Starlink Nears Approval in India + Payload Analysis

https://payloadspace.com/starlink-nears-approval-in-india-payload-analysis/
> India is on the verge of approving SpaceX’s Starlink service, paving the way for the launch—or, dare we say, broadband—giant to bring satellite internet to a nation of 1.4B people.
> Officials are set to meet as early as this month to approve Starlink’s satellite license for use in India, according to two reports from the Times of India and Financial Express. If approved, Starlink would join OneWeb and Jio Satellite in beaming down internet to India.
> 40% without internet: Despite rapid growth, India remains a developing country, with a staggering ~40% of its population without internet access, often due to poor fiber broadband coverage. Even those who do have internet access are subject to shutdowns—sometimes imposed by the Indian government for political reasons, such as to prevent people from criticizing the government or organizing protests.
> With 500M+ people lacking accessible internet, India represents a massive opportunity for SpaceX. Sanjay Bhargava, a former Starlink executive, said in 2021 that the company was aiming to sell 200,000 terminals in India within its first nine months of operations.