India’s debate over Starlink is increasingly moving beyond the question of whether satellite internet can deliver high-speed connectivity to a more fundamental issue: whether the people who remain least connected will actually be able to afford and use the service.
The issue has gained fresh attention after Elon Musk publicly criticised delays surrounding Starlink’s entry into India, alleging that unnamed “oligarchs” were attempting to protect existing market positions. India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the allegation as baseless and said Starlink, Reliance Jio and Airtel-backed satellite operator OneWeb were at broadly similar stages of the regulatory process, with security assessments continuing.
Starlink already has an important track record in providing connectivity to remote locations. Its low-Earth-orbit satellite network can reach areas where conventional fibre and mobile infrastructure are difficult or expensive to deploy. Australia provides a useful example of both the opportunities and limitations that come with such technology.
In remote Australian communities, satellite connectivity has helped maintain communications when traditional infrastructure has failed. The Australia Today report highlights the experience of Wujal Wujal in Queensland, where flooding in December 2023 damaged buildings and disrupted the local fibre connection. Starlink became an important communications link during the disruption.
Australia’s telecommunications regulator has also found that Starlink can provide high-speed connectivity to regional and remote households outside the fixed-line network footprint. An ACCC assessment published in 2025 recorded average Starlink busy-hour download speeds of 170.2 Mbps during the testing period, demonstrating the technology’s ability to provide a substantial alternative where fixed-line services are unavailable.
However, access to technology does not automatically mean universal access to connectivity. Research highlighted in the linked report found that Starlink adoption among households in some remote First Nations communities remained extremely low despite strong uptake by institutions such as schools, councils, health services and police.
The researchers cited equipment costs of around A$500 to A$600 and monthly service charges of approximately A$139 as significant barriers for many households. In communitIn communities where household incomes are limited, the upfront hardware requirement and continuing subscription cost can make satellite broadband difficult to adopt, even when the underlying technology is capable of delivering much better speeds.
That experience presents an important consideration for India, which has a vastly different population and telecommunications landscape. Satellite internet could potentially help connect remote villages, islands, border regions and other locations where terrestrial networks remain difficult to deploy, but affordability will determine how widely the service can actually be used.
India has already made substantial progress in expanding internet access. The government reported more than one billion internet subscribers in April–June 2025, while rural internet penetration stood at approximately 46 subscribers per 100 people. The figures show both the scale of India’s digital expansion and the continuing gap between connected and underserved communities.
For this reason, satellite broadband is increasingly being viewed as a potential additional layer of India’s connectivity infrastructure rather than a replacement for existing networks. Fibre, mobile networks, community Wi-Fi and satellite systems can each serve different geographic and economic requirements.
The Indian government is already implementing programmes aimed at extending broadband connectivity into rural areas. BharatNet, for example, is being expanded to provide broadband connections to Gram Panchayats and villages, while government programmes also focus on last-mile access, affordability and digital literacy.
This combination could be particularly important in areas where a household may technically be within reach of a communications network but still cannot afford a conventional broadband connection. Having infrastructure nearby does not necessarily translate into meaningful digital participation if the monthly cost remains beyond a family’s budget.
The affordability question is not unique to India. Research on satellite internet has similarly warned that current pricing models can leave a significant proportion of unserved households unable to afford reliable Starlink service under commonly used affordability benchmarks. The research argues that satellite networks can expand geographical coverage but cannot, by themselves, guarantee universal meaningful connectivity.
For India, the challenge is therefore likely to involve more than bringing Starlink or another satellite provider into the market. Policymakers will also need to consider whether low-income households, schools, community centres and remote public services can obtain access through affordable plans, shared facilities, subsidies or other mechanisms.
Community access could offer one possible approach. Instead of requiring every household in a remote settlement to purchase its own satellite terminal and subscription, a shared connection could potentially serve schools, health centres, panchayat facilities or community digital hubs. Such models could extend the benefits of high-speed connectivity without transferring the full cost to individual families.
Digital skills are another part of the equation. A fast connection has limited value if people lack the knowledge, devices or services required to use it effectively. Access to online education, government services, telehealth, financial platforms and employment opportunities depends on more than bandwidth alone.
At the same time, India’s policymakers are balancing connectivity ambitions with security and regulatory considerations. Satellite operators require government authorisation, and security requirements must be addressed before services can be fully deployed. Current reporting indicates that Starlink and competing operators remain subject to regulatory and security processes before commercial operations can proceed.
The question of market competition is also significant. A satellite connectivity ecosystem involving multiple operators could reduce dependence on a single provider and create greater choice for consumers and institutions. India has already attracted interest from several satellite operators, reflecting the potential scale of its market.
Starlink’s eventual entry could nevertheless be significant for parts of India where conventional connectivity is difficult to provide. Remote Himalayan communities, islands, border areas, disaster-affected locations and other geographically challenging regions could potentially benefit from satellite-based infrastructure.
But Australia’s experience offers a broader lesson: technological capability and social accessibility are not the same thing. A service can provide exceptional speeds and still leave the most economically vulnerable households outside the digital economy if the price is too high.
India’s existing experience with affordable mobile data and large-scale digital platforms demonstrates the importance of designing connectivity around mass adoption. Satellite internet could become another important component of that model, provided affordability and last-mile access are considered alongside speed and coverage.
As the regulatory process surrounding Starlink and other satellite providers continues, the bigger policy question for India will therefore be how satellite technology fits into a broader strategy for universal digital inclusion. The success of satellite broadband should ultimately be measured not only by how quickly a connection can reach a remote location, but by how many people can realistically afford to use it.
For millions living in underserved areas, meaningful connectivity means being able to access education, healthcare, government services, jobs and financial opportunities. If satellite technology can help deliver those benefits at a sustainable cost, it could become an important part of India’s digital future. If affordability is overlooked, however, faster internet could simply create another layer of infrastructure that remains out of reach for the people who need connectivity most.
