New Delhi, Nov 30: SpaceX chief Elon Musk has said he is eager to launch Starlink internet services in India. The satellite-based internet system, which already operates in 150 countries, is known for offering low-cost and reliable connectivity.
Speaking to investor Nikhil Kamath on the People of WTF podcast, Musk said Starlink’s strength comes from its thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites that provide high-speed, low-latency internet. He explained that the satellites are connected through laser links, creating a mesh network. This allows Starlink to continue working even if ground cables are damaged.
Musk said Starlink satellites orbit at around 550 kilometres, much lower than traditional geostationary satellites at 36,000 kilometres. This results in faster response times, making the service especially useful in disaster-hit regions. He said that during floods, fires, or earthquakes, ground networks often fail, but Starlink continues to function and even provides free internet in emergency situations.
He cited the recent Red Sea cable disruptions as an example, where Starlink remained unaffected while ground networks were impacted.
Musk also highlighted Starlink’s advantages in rural areas. He said that urban areas have many closely placed cell towers, but in rural regions it is difficult and expensive to set up fiber networks or high-bandwidth towers. As a result, rural areas often have the worst internet connectivity, and this is where Starlink becomes most useful. He said Starlink is designed to complement existing telecom companies by serving the least connected regions.
However, Musk clarified that Starlink cannot outperform local networks in densely populated cities due to physical limitations. He said the service is not meant to compete with cellular networks but can still help a small percentage of urban users who do not have access to fiber.
