Elon Musk's Starlink announces prices, how much will broadband cost and what is the internet plan?

News Topical, Digital Desk : Elon Musk's Starlink has released broadband and internet rates in India. This move by Musk is being seen as a major step towards a commercial launch. With the price announcement, Starlink has launched in India.

The company has promised to offer its services even in remote areas of India where internet access is limited. The unlimited data offered will be 99.9 percent accurate, and it will also provide uninterrupted high-speed internet in any weather.

How much will it cost every month?

The updated page shows a monthly charge of ₹8,600 for the general public. Customers will also need to purchase a one-time hardware kit worth ₹34,000. This plan offers unlimited data and a 30-day trial period, giving new users plenty of time to test how the service works in their area.

The website touts several features for the residential package, including plug-and-play setup, over 99.9% uptime, weather resistance, and no data limits. While the full price of the consumer-focused plan has now been revealed, Starlink has not yet disclosed how much it will charge for the business tier.

Starlink's target is to reach rural areas

In October, Starlink's India Market Access Director, Parnil Urdhvaresh, said that a large portion of Starlink's global user base consists of residential customers in rural areas, and for a large number of these users, Starlink was their first real way to access high-quality broadband. "Therefore, serving those rural users is crucial to Starlink's mission," he said.

In the same month, Starlink also began its initial hiring in India, indicating that the company was preparing for further expansion in the satellite broadband sector.

So far, the Department of Telecommunications has allowed three companies to proceed with satellite communication services. Along with Starlink, Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio's satellite arm have received the necessary approvals. All three are still awaiting spectrum allocation before starting commercial rollouts.

Preparations underway to install Gateway Earth Station

In November, the Maharashtra government announced a partnership with Elon Musk's company, becoming the first state to formally sign an agreement with the US operator. Starlink is preparing to install gateway earth stations in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Noida for satellite-to-ground communications.

These relay installations are essential for maintaining low-latency connections and service reliability across various regions of India. These gateway stations will establish connections between SpaceX satellites and receivers on Earth.

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