SpaceX CEO Elon Musk the worlds richest man is set to launch his Starlink satellite internet service in India and will be in direct competition for market share with Mukesh Ambani-led Jio and Sunil Mittals Airtel-- currently the top internet providers in the country. As per latest reports Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has received recommendations about spectrum allocation for Starlink from TRAI on December 15 last month and is now charting out an allocation plan for Musks satellite broadband service. Starlinks impending entry into the Indian market has sparked a race among telecom providers to launch their own satellite broadband service like Jio Satcom Airtel OneWeb and Amazon also entering the battlefield with Kuiper. Mukesh Ambani-led Jio and Bharti Airtel have already completed their regulatory process for launching their respective satellite-based internet services but Elon Musks Starlink will likely become the first satellite broadband provider in India according to reports. When will Starlink launch in India? The Starlink satellite internet service will likely be launched in India as early as February 2025 with latest reports stating that DoT is currently deciding on the mode of allocation spectrum satellite broadband service after receiving recommendations from the telecom regulator TRAI on December 15 2024. The spectrum allocation is expected to follow the same process as the allocation model for 2G services however Jio and Airtel are lobbying for allocation through an auction model reports said. In a statement Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the decision about spectrum allocation will likely be taken by the end of this month. Earlier Scindia had announced that India is ready to provide license to Tesla CEO Elon Musk to launch his satellite-based Starlink internet service in the country but the actual launch will depend on when spectrum allocation takes place. Starlink has agreed to follow the rules laid down the Indian Government regarding data storage and security and will be provided an operational license soon reports said. Starlink features Elon Musks Starlink offers satellite-based wireless internet connectivity with download speeds varying from 50-150 Mbps in the standard plan while the premium plan users can get speeds of up to 220 Mbps. The upload speeds can range from 10-20 Mbps which is mediocre at best compared to modern internet speeds. In contrast the internet services offered by Indias major telecom providers including Sunil Mittals Bharti Airtel and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio are not only way cheaper but way more faster than what Starlink seems to be offering on paper. However Starlinks main selling point is its capability to provide connectivity in remote areas without requiring any mobile network infrastructure. With Starlink user will be able to make calls and send message even in areas without any network coverage and also access high-speed internet without needing to buy any separate device. Starlink internet service is currently available in select countries like the United States Australia and some European countries.