Starlink Internet Coming To India: What Are The Preparations In Nepal Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service is coming to India. For this, India’s two largest telecom operators, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have recently signed an agreement with SpaceX.
The deal to bring Starlink to India comes a month after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Elon Musk in Washington. According to media outlet The Hindu, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio plan to collaborate with SpaceX to provide high-speed internet service to remote parts of India.
Similarly, Starlink is also set to be operational in another neighboring country, Bhutan. The Bhutan Infocomm and Media Authority (BICMA) has recently granted Starlink a license as an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
With the preparations for Starlink’s entry into India and Bhutan, discussions have also started in Nepal. Last November, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had an 11-minute video conversation with Elon Musk. The issue of bringing Starlink to Nepal was also discussed in the conversation.
Similarly, the regulatory Nepal Telecommunications Authority has also responded that there has been no progress in the Starlink Internet case. Pradeep Poudel, the authority’s assistant spokesperson, said that there is a provision to obtain a license as per the existing Telecommunications Act to operate any type of internet service. “If Starlink comes seeking a license, the feasibility of satellite internet service will be studied before granting approval,” he said.
Starlink is providing high-speed internet service in about 100 countries via satellite. However, experts say that the Starlink Internet process has not progressed due to legal hurdles and regulatory challenges in Nepal.
Earlier, Starlink had planned to start services in Nepal by 2023. During that time, it was informed that preparations were being made to expand the service after discussing with officials of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority. However, Starlink withdrew due to legal obstacles.
Click here to read how Nepal’s laws became an obstacle to Starlink’s entry into Nepal.
Starlink appeared enthusiastic after the Nepal government introduced a plan to operate satellite-based internet services in its latest policy and program. The company is sending its representatives to hold discussions at the government level. Last October, Starlink representatives met Prime Minister Oli and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung and proposed a plan to bring internet to remote and isolated areas of Nepal.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s largest internet service provider Worldlink is also working to introduce Starlink. Some time ago, the company’s Managing Director Dilip Agarwal had said that he was eager to introduce Starlink in Nepal.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet service provided by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. Usually, internet service providers provide internet service by laying underground cables or using mobile towers. However, Starlink uses a network of satellites orbiting the Earth to provide internet service to its customers.
Starlink’s main objective is to provide high-speed internet service in rural areas where broadband internet service is not available and in places where it is difficult to build towers.
Starlink’s internet service does not work like normal broadband. It does not have to rely on millions of kilometres of long cables. Starlink provides internet service directly from space. This makes high-speed internet service easily accessible even in remote areas.
Starlink satellites are very close to Earth. This allows Starlink to provide high-speed internet service to users. Another feature of this is that it can provide high-speed internet even on a flying ship.
Broadband companies use fibre optic cables to send data. This makes it easy to provide internet service using such cables in cities and villages. However, it is difficult and expensive to deliver cables to remote areas and mountainous areas. Starlink services are useful in such places.