<p>Elon Musk’s Starlink has reportedly renewed its push to enter India’s satellite communications market, submitting a fresh application to the Indian space regulator for its next-generation satellite constellation.</p><p>According to the Economic Times, the application seeks authorisation for Starlink’s Gen 2 constellation, which would operate in low Earth orbit at altitudes ranging from 340 to 615 km. The system could bring newer capabilities to India, including direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, potentially allowing compatible smartphones to connect with satellites without relying entirely on conventional mobile networks.</p><p>Starlink’s latest move comes as India prepares to expand its satellite communications framework and considers regulations for emerging technologies. The company had previously applied for approval for a constellation of around 30,000 satellites, but the application was rejected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) over certain technical features and spectrum bands.</p><p>“The company has recently applied to get authorisation for its Gen 2 constellation... at an altitude of 340-615 km in low earth orbit (LEO),” a person familiar with the matter told The Economic Times.</p><p>IN-SPACe approved Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation in July 2025. The first-generation network consists of 4,408 satellites and is designed to provide conventional broadband services.</p><p>The fresh application could strengthen Starlink’s position as India weighs the introduction of D2D services. The Economic Times had earlier reported that Starlink would need to submit a new application for Gen 2 approval.</p><p>SpaceX plans to eventually deploy about 42,000 satellites under Gen 2, although the latest Indian application seeks authorisation for nearly 30,000.</p><p>Starlink is not alone in eyeing the Indian market. Reliance Jio has proposed a 1,600-satellite constellation, while Amazon Leo and Eutelsat OneWeb are also seeking opportunities in the country.</p><p>However, commercial satellite services are yet to begin for major non-geostationary satellite operators, with security clearances and spectrum allocation still pending.</p><p>The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has already issued recommendations on satellite spectrum pricing, while consultations on D2D services are underway. Any rollout will also face scrutiny over national security, spectrum use and potential misuse of satellite infrastructure.</p>

Starlink has reapplied for India approval of its Gen 2 satellite network, seeking to offer advanced services including direct-to-device connectivity as New Delhi weighs satcom rules.

Elon Musk’s Starlink has reportedly renewed its push to enter India’s satellite communications market, submitting a fresh application to the Indian space regulator for its next-generation satellite constellation. According to the Economic Times, the application seeks authorisation for Starlink’s Gen 2 constellation, which would operate in low Earth orbit at altitudes ranging from 340 to 615 km. The system could bring newer capabilities to India, including direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, potentially allowing compatible smartphones to connect with satellites without relying entirely on conventional mobile networks. Starlink’s latest move comes as India prepares to expand its satellite communications framework and considers regulations for emerging technologies. The company had previously applied for approval for a constellation of around 30,000 satellites, but the application was rejected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) over certain technical features and spectrum bands. “The company has recently applied to get authorisation for its Gen 2 constellation... at an altitude of 340-615 km in low earth orbit (LEO),” a person familiar with the matter told The Economic Times. IN-SPACe approved Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation in July 2025. The first-generation network consists of 4,408 satellites and is designed to provide conventional broadband services. The fresh application could strengthen Starlink’s position as India weighs the introduction of D2D services. The Economic Times had earlier reported that Starlink would need to submit a new application for Gen 2 approval. SpaceX plans to eventually deploy about 42,000 satellites under Gen 2, although the latest Indian application seeks authorisation for nearly 30,000. Starlink is not alone in eyeing the Indian market. Reliance Jio has proposed a 1,600-satellite constellation, while Amazon Leo and Eutelsat OneWeb are also seeking opportunities in the country. However, commercial satellite services are yet to begin for major non-geostationary satellite operators, with security clearances and spectrum allocation still pending. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has already issued recommendations on satellite spectrum pricing, while consultations on D2D services are underway. Any rollout will also face scrutiny over national security, spectrum use and potential misuse of satellite infrastructure.

<p>Starlink has reapplied for India approval of its Gen 2 satellite network, seeking to offer advanced services including direct-to-device connectivity as New Delhi weighs satcom rules.</p>

Starlink coming to India? Elon Musk’s satellite giant makes fresh India push

<p>SpaceX confirmed the launch of 21 new Starlink satellites into orbit&nbsp;early Tuesday (August 22), after a days-long delay due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary. This marks the 15th launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the delayed launch</strong></h2>

<p>A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, on Tuesday at 5:37 am (local time), reported Space.com. This comes after the rocket was originally supposed to launch on early Thursday (August 17) but was delayed due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary on rocket recovery operations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Due to Hurricane Hilary impacting recovery operations in the Pacific, we are standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink,” said SpaceX, on X (formerly Twitter), on Thursday.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Liftoff! <a href="https://t.co/AvzApSXTnU">pic.twitter.com/AvzApSXTnU</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1693920692704776232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Storm Hilary, downgraded from a hurricane, flooded streets, downed power lines and triggered mudslides across Southern California on Monday (August 20), after unleashing record-breaking rain overnight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was after the hurricane lost strength off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula before making landfall in the North American mainland.</p>

<h2><strong>SpaceX recovers Falcon 9 booster</strong></h2>

<p>Typically, SpaceX recovers its Falcon 9 boosters by landing them on a drone ship around eight minutes after the launch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarly, in this case, Falcon 9’s first-stage boosters returned to Earth and landed on the company’s drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ (OCISLY) about 8.5 minutes after the launch.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship <a href="https://t.co/DwgDDCC895">pic.twitter.com/DwgDDCC895</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1693922954000879680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>OCISLY is a SpaceX autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) that is operated out of the Port of Long Beach, California, which was previously based in Florida from 2015 to 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the report, this was SpaceX’s 15th launch and landing for this particular booster just one short of its reuse record held by two different Falcon 9 first stages.<br />
<br />
In a later update, SpaceX took to the microblogging platform and&nbsp;said "Deployment of 21&nbsp;@Starlink satellites confirmed."</p>

<p>So far, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched around 5,000 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) with the permission to deploy as many as 12,000 Starlink satellites.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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SpaceX confirmed the launch of 21 new Starlink satellites into orbit early Tuesday (August 22), after a days-long delay due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary. This marks the 15th launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX confirmed the launch of 21 new Starlink satellites into orbit early Tuesday (August 22), after a days-long delay due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary. This marks the 15th launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket. About the delayed launch A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, on Tuesday at 5:37 am (local time), reported Space.com. This comes after the rocket was originally supposed to launch on early Thursday (August 17) but was delayed due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary on rocket recovery operations. “Due to Hurricane Hilary impacting recovery operations in the Pacific, we are standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink,” said SpaceX, on X (formerly Twitter), on Thursday. Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/AvzApSXTnU — SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 22, 2023 × Storm Hilary, downgraded from a hurricane, flooded streets, downed power lines and triggered mudslides across Southern California on Monday (August 20), after unleashing record-breaking rain overnight. This was after the hurricane lost strength off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula before making landfall in the North American mainland. SpaceX recovers Falcon 9 booster Typically, SpaceX recovers its Falcon 9 boosters by landing them on a drone ship around eight minutes after the launch. Similarly, in this case, Falcon 9’s first-stage boosters returned to Earth and landed on the company’s drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ (OCISLY) about 8.5 minutes after the launch. Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship pic.twitter.com/DwgDDCC895 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 22, 2023 × OCISLY is a SpaceX autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) that is operated out of the Port of Long Beach, California, which was previously based in Florida from 2015 to 2021. According to the report, this was SpaceX’s 15th launch and landing for this particular booster just one short of its reuse record held by two different Falcon 9 first stages. In a later update, SpaceX took to the microblogging platform and said "Deployment of 21 @Starlink satellites confirmed." So far, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched around 5,000 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) with the permission to deploy as many as 12,000 Starlink satellites. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites after delay, lands rocket at sea

As per reports, Japan's military is testing Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service with an eye to adopting the technology next fiscal year. WION tells you more in this report.

Japanese military considers adopting Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service