Prior to SpaceX’s planned launch for Starlink satellite internet service in India, the Elon Musk-led space firm has introduced its services in Sri Lanka. Starlink, which has a global presence across most of the Earth’s continents, adds Sri Lanka to its list of supported South East Asian countries, with the other ones being Bangladesh and Bhutan as India’s immediate neighbours.
The announcement came directly from Starlink’s official X profile, confirming the service’s immediate availability. Starlink operates the world’s largest constellation of satellites, with over 6,750 units in low Earth orbit (LEO), a design that significantly reduces latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites. This vast network allows Starlink to beam internet connectivity to remote and underserved regions, circumventing the need for extensive ground infrastructure like fiber optic cables or cellular towers.
For Sri Lanka, Starlink’s arrival holds substantial promise. The service promises to offer reliable and fast internet access to rural and remote areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is often scarce or non-existent.
When will India get Starlink?
While Sri Lanka has welcomed Starlink with swift regulatory approval, the company’s journey into India, where the SpaceX venture has faced more complex regulatory hurdles. India, a vast and highly competitive telecom market, has engaged in extensive discussions with Starlink. Recent reports have hinted at Starlink clearing most of the regulatory hurdles in the country by The Department of Telecom (DoT). Rumours say that Starlink is poised for an official launch in India in two months.
Starlink is already present in other Asian countries like Mongolia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, Yemen, and Azerbaijan
