Starlink Faces Limitations in India as BSNL Strengthens
While Elon Musk's Starlink is capped at 20 lakh connections in India, BSNL continues its 4G rollout without tariff hikes, boosting its revenue by 20-30% this year. The government stresses focusing on indigenous tech, with plans to phase out Chinese equipment.
- Country:
- India
The Union Minister for Telecom, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, has stated that Starlink, the satellite communication service led by billionaire Elon Musk, will be limited to just 20 lakh connections within India. This announcement mitigates concerns regarding competition with state-run BSNL and other telecommunications companies.
Starlink's offering of up to 200 Mbps speeds is tailored for underserved rural and remote regions, areas where BSNL has a notable footprint. However, a government official clarified that Starlink's capacity limitations led to this connection cap. The high initial and monthly costs, estimated to be around Rs 3,000, could also be a limiting factor.
BSNL is gaining momentum with its complete 4G rollout, significantly enhancing its revenue. The company has resolved legacy and technical issues, including replacing 30,000 power stations to improve network uptime. The government plans to phase out Chinese equipment, pushing for indigenous technologies, particularly as BSNL transitions from 2G and 3G.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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