Starlink Satellite Internet is now available in India’s neighboring country, Bhutan. In December 2024, satellite internet connectivity reached the country. However, Spacex of Elon Musk has now officially confirmed the availability of Starlink services in Bhutan, in which users are also gaining high -speed satellites to internet in remote areas. The government is still waiting for its rollout due to pending government approval and security concerns.

In Bhutan, Starlink has launched its satellite internet service with two primary plans:

The first is a residential light scheme, the price of which is NU 3,000 (about Rs 3,001) per month. The scheme provides speed ranging from 23 Mbps to 100 Mbps.

The second is the standard residential scheme, which provides speed between 25 Mbps and 110 Mbps and costs NU 4,200 (about Rs 4,201) per month. This scheme provides unlimited data users’ users.

While the pricing of the satellite internet is quite high, the purpose of service is to provide internet access to users in remote and underscribed areas where fiber or cellular networks are either untrustable or unavailable.

How does Starlink work?

Starlink is a satellite-based internet service run by Spacex. As of January 2024, the company has about 7,000 low-earth class (Leo) satellites in several constellations revolving around the Earth. Elon Musk has revealed that SpaceX has planned to refresh Starlink Megaconstale every five years with new technology.

Unlike the traditional broadband services relying on underground cables or towers, Starlink satellites use small user terminals that communicate with these satellites, which allows them users in rural and remote places to use the Internet Is. While its availability is primarily aimed at remote areas, it is designed for fixed-location use. To connect users, special star clinks require hardware (a dish and router), which can also be installed in vehicles powered with homes, businesses or even correct equipment.

Starlink availability

Starlink has rapidly expanded its availability worldwide. Right now, Starlink services are available in more than 100 countries. Some major markets for Starlink include the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and Mongolia. Bhutan recently joined the list, which is one of some South Asian countries to reach Starlink. Meanwhile, countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar are also expected to get Starlink services in the near future.

What about India’s availability?

With the increasing availability of Starlink and its official launch in neighboring Bhutan, the demand for service in India is also increasing. However, the company has not yet introduced its satellite service in the country due to regulatory barriers. The Government of India has so far provided necessary approval to SpaceX, mainly citing security concerns.

In particular, in the late 2024, authorities in India seized Starlink satellite equipment from areas such as Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, raising concerns over the illegal use of the Internet by militants and smugglers. This has increased the investigation of the application process of Starlink.

Right now, the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) is reviewing the Starlink request for a license, but is cautious. India has already approved satellite internet services from Bharti-supported OneWeb and Jio-SES, while Starlink and Amazon’s project Kuper are still waiting for clearance.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has confirmed that the Starlink satellite beam on India has been “closed” and “never in the first place,” saying that the company is waiting for the government’s approval before starting services in the country. Still working.