Why India hasn’t cleared Starlink’s direct-to-device satellite plans

Elon Musk-owned Starlink will need fresh approval from India’s space regulator IN-SPACe to roll out direct-to-device satellite connectivity, officials said. Regulators earlier approved Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation for broadband services but rejected its Gen 2 application over unmet requirements and use of frequency bands not permitted in India. India currently lacks a regulatory framework for D2D services, with the Department of Telecommunications likely to seek TRAI’s recommendations on pricing, spectrum and operational norms. Starlink has not commented on plans to reapply.