Amazon-supported Project Kuiper is pushing for quick regulatory clearance to launch its satellite internet services in India, intensifying rivalry in a market already eyed by Starlink. The company has recently approached the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), urging fast-tracking of a Letter of Intent (LoI) for a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license.
Kuiper’s application predates the LoI granted to Starlink. According to ETTelecom, citing several sources, “Similar to Starlink, Kuiper aims to deploy extensive satellite communication capacity in India, planning to establish 10 gateway stations and two key points of presence in Mumbai and Chennai.”
Project Kuiper is arguably Amazon’s most significant venture, directly competing with Starlink as well as international telecom giants such as AT&T and T-Mobile. The service is marketed as a critical solution for rural regions where internet access is limited or unavailable.
Take a look at this @ULAlaunch clip of the first Kuiper satellites being released into low Earth orbit approximately 280 miles above the planet. Deployment takes place over a 15-minute period after launch, with satellites released three at a time from the dispenser system. pic.twitter.com/bZ1zUy3IWs
— Project Kuiper (@ProjectKuiper) May 2, 2025
The initial satellite deployment has faced over a year’s delay—Amazon originally targeted early 2024 for the first launch. The company must meet a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deadline to have half of its 3,236 satellite constellation operational by mid-2026. Given the slow rollout, experts expect Amazon to request an extension.
Nominal start to our KA-01 mission. We’ve already established contact with all 27 Kuiper satellites in orbit, and initial deployment and activation sequences are proceeding as planned. Thanks to @ULAlaunch for a successful launch – the first of many missions together. pic.twitter.com/XyG0UCgjuX
— Project Kuiper (@ProjectKuiper) April 29, 2025
The first 27 Kuiper satellites were successfully launched from Florida last month, marking the beginning of the delayed rollout of Amazon’s global internet-from-space network designed to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
Amazon plans to deploy a total of 3,236 low-Earth orbit satellites as part of Project Kuiper, a $10 billion initiative launched in 2019 aiming to provide broadband internet to consumers, businesses, and governments worldwide—customers that SpaceX has long targeted with its Starlink service.
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet may soon launch in India
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet may soon launch in India after receiving official clearance. The Department of Telecommunications has issued Starlink a Letter of Intent, contingent upon the company’s compliance with India’s updated licensing and security norms, according to government sources.
By entering the Indian market, SpaceX could tap into a lucrative opportunity. Industry analysts estimate that capturing even a small 1% share of India’s extensive broadband consumer market could generate close to $1 billion annually. Given the country’s massive population and growing internet demand, the financial upside is significant.