The service aims to fill connectivity gaps in rural regions, where 11,256 listed villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. While India had 1.093 billion total internet subscriptions in March 2026, only 440.87 million were in rural areas, with a subscription density of 48.31 per 100 people compared to 126.80 in urban centers. Wired connections account for only 4.26% of all subscriptions, leaving rural access dependent on projects like BharatNet, which had operational points in 80,472 Gram Panchayats in June 2026.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Starlink Deploys 20 India Gateways Pending Government Approval
Tech13 days ago
SpaceX has developed localized security controls to keep user data within India as its satellite internet division prepares for commercial operations. Vice President Lauren Dreyer disclosed at the India Mobile Congress that Starlink has built 20 gateway sites with hundreds of antennas, though final regulatory approvals from the government are pending. The company has also signed memorandums of understanding with telecom operators Airtel and Jio, while Elon Musk has alleged that powerful domestic businessmen are blocking the service to maintain their own monopolistic chokehold on the population.
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