India halts plans for direct-to-phone connectivity after rejecting Starlink’s Gen 2 satellite application.

The deployment of direct-to-device satellite connectivity in India has been hampered by the rejection of an application from Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, for its next-generation Gen 2 satellite system. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) analyzed the request, which asked for approval for satellites that could send signals straight to mobile phones without the need for ground-based terminals. 

Only Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation, which provides standard satellite broadband services via user terminals and terrestrial infrastructure, was approved by IN-SPACe. Officials stated that any new technology would need a different approval procedure and that the Gen 2 application did not comply with regulatory criteria. 

Regulators claim that direct-to-device services are subject to a different policy and technical evaluation and do not fall within the current space-based broadband licenses. Another important consideration in the decision was the Gen 2 system’s usage of frequency ranges that are not yet authorized for use in India. 

A few years prior, when direct-to-device technology was still in its early stages, Starlink requested for authorization for both systems jointly. Since then, the technology has advanced to the point where further regulatory oversight is required. 

Direct satellite connectivity to mobile phones is not currently allowed in India, and the government and Department of Telecommunications are still debating a national framework for such services. 

Any such rollout in India will depend on upcoming policy decisions and regulatory certifications, even as Starlink continues to extend its Gen 2 constellation globally, including recent approvals in the US.