Mumbai: Maharashtra became the first Indian state to formally partner with Elon Musk’s Starlink, a satellite internet service, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The state government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited. This collaboration aims to bring high-speed internet to rural and underserved regions across Maharashtra, a move Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called a "giant leap" for the state's digital future. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}### Boosting Rural Connectivity The partnership focuses on bridging the significant digital divide in remote areas. Starlink’s satellite-based internet services will reach government institutions, public infrastructure, and rural communities. Initial deployment will target aspirational districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv, and Washim. These areas often lack reliable internet due to difficult terrain and limited traditional telecom infrastructure. Ch^{[1][7][8][9][10][11][12][4][13][14][15][6][16]}ief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized the partnership's importance. "With Starlink joining hands with Maharashtra, we are bridging the last digital divide connecting every village, every school, and every health centre, no matter how remote," Fadnavis stated. He ^{[9][3][4][14][6]}added that this initiative reflects a commitment to building a "truly connected, future-ready Maharashtra." The^[9][14][6] project aligns with the state’s Digital Maharashtra mission and supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader Digital India program. ### Pi^{[7][2][8][11][12][3][5][6][16]}lot Project and Rollout Plans The agreement outlines a 90-day pilot rollout. A joint working group will monitor progress at 30, 60, and 90-day intervals. Chief Minister Fadnavis will personally lead quarterly reviews to track performance and identify opportunities for expansion. If the ^{[7][13][15][6]}pilot proves successful, the initiative will scale up across the entire state. Starli^[7][15][6]nk, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, operates the world's largest constellation of communication satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). This tech^{[1][7][8][9][10][3][5]}nology allows Starlink to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet signals directly to users on the ground, bypassing the need for extensive cable networks or mobile towers. Lauren Dr^{[7][9][10][12][17]}eyer, Starlink’s Vice President, welcomed the collaboration. She said the company is committed to ensuring no community is left behind. The formal^{[7][18][9][4][14][6]} partnership is currently a Letter of Intent. It depends on Starlink securing all necessary regulatory and compliance clearances from the Government of India. ### Starli^{[7][2][8][9][19][13][14][6]}nk’s Entry into India Starlink has been actively working towards its commercial launch in India. The company received a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence from the Department of Telecommunications in June 2025. In July 2025,^[7] the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) also granted approval for Starlink’s satellite broadband operations. A full commerc^[17]ial launch for Starlink in India is anticipated by late 2025 to early 2026. The company is ^{[1][20][21][22][17][23]}establishing at least nine satellite gateway stations across India, including in major cities like Mumbai, Noida, and Kolkata. Starlink will f^[1][19]ace competition from other players in India’s emerging satellite broadband market, such as Jio Satellite and Eutelsat OneWeb. The service is d^[1][7]esigned to provide download speeds ranging from 25 Mbps to 220 Mbps. The one-time hard^{[20][22][17][23]}ware kit, including the satellite dish and router, is expected to cost approximately Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000. Monthly subscript^{[10][20][17][23]}ion plans are speculated to be around Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,200. The government ha^{[20][24][17][23]}s capped Starlink's initial rollout at 2 million connections nationwide. This partnership^{[10][24][22][23]} could serve as a model for other Indian states seeking to overcome connectivity barriers in remote regions. It represents a s^{[7][8][12][3][4][25]}ignificant step towards achieving comprehensive digital inclusion across the country.

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