Maharashtra Partners with Starlink for Satellite Internet Services

Maharashtra has officially become the first state in India to establish a partnership with Starlink, the satellite internet service founded by Elon Musk. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who highlighted the significance of this collaboration in expanding digital connectivity across the state.

The agreement was formalised with a letter of intent signed by Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Starlink, and Virendra Singh, Secretary of the Department of Information Technology for the Government of Maharashtra. This event took place in the presence of Chief Minister Fadnavis, marking a substantial step towards improving internet access in rural and remote areas.

Under this partnership, satellite internet services will be introduced in various government institutions and public infrastructure, particularly focusing on underserved districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv, and Washim. This initiative is a key component of the state’s Digital Maharashtra mission, aimed at bolstering digital infrastructure in regions with limited connectivity.

In a post on social media platform X, Chief Minister Fadnavis expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "Elon Musk's Starlink is one of the largest companies in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, holding the largest number of communication satellites in the world. It is our honour that the company is arriving in India and partnering with Maharashtra. This is a giant leap towards a future-ready Maharashtra and setting the benchmark for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India mission at the grassroots level."

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had previously granted Starlink a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence in June 2025, after the company met all necessary security requirements stipulated in its letter of intent. Starlink becomes the third satellite communication company to receive such a licence, following Eutelsat's OneWeb and Reliance Jio.

During the signing ceremony, Lauren Dreyer commented on the collaboration, emphasising Starlink's commitment to providing high-speed connectivity to underserved communities. She stated, "We pride ourselves in providing high-speed connectivity, regardless of background and location. We are therefore honoured to collaborate with the Government of Maharashtra in this first-of-its-kind initiative. Starlink's mission complements other government initiatives and aims to connect those who have been left behind by traditional infrastructure."

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has previously engaged with Indian officials, including a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2025, where they discussed Starlink’s operational plans in India and the country’s requirements concerning security measures. This partnership not only reflects the growing importance of digital connectivity in governance but also highlights India's efforts to leverage innovative technologies to bridge the digital divide in its rural areas.