Elon Musk says Starlink would help India’s ‘least served’ in rural areas
Elon Musk proposes Starlink for rural India’s internet, citing 4G gaps. Starlink seeks Indian regulatory approval.
Taking to X, Musk said, “Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas”
Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas https://t.co/ffCvpL61WQ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 21, 2026
The richest man in the world was responding to a post by X account DogeDesigner, which also pushed for Starlink Services in India to connect remote villages.
“11,256 of India’s listed villages still had no 4G coverage as of May 2026,” DogeDesigner said.
“India had 1.093 billion internet subscriptions in March 2026, but only 440.87 million were rural. Rural subscription density was 48.31 per 100 people, compared with 126.80 in urban India,” it said.
India needs @Starlink
• 11,256 of India’s listed villages still had no 4G coverage as of May 2026.
• India had 1.093 billion internet subscriptions in March 2026, but only 440.87 million were rural. Rural subscription density was 48.31 per 100 people, compared with 126.80 in… pic.twitter.com/zSKh3TiHFv
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) August 20, 2026
Musk’s comments came amid reports that Starlink has made a fresh application to offer satellite communication services in India.
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre previously denied Starlink’s application for its Gen 2 satellite network, citing that certain features and the radio frequencies intended for use did not comply with Indian standards.
Also Read: Musk’s Starlink reapplies for approval in India: What its direct-to-device technology brings to you
The Gen 2 system offers direct-to-device connectivity capabilities.
Starlink, managed by Musk’s SpaceX, delivers internet connectivity via a network of low-Earth orbit satellites and has been pursuing regulatory approvals to initiate its services in India.
In another development in the matter, the satellite internet initiative recently secured its inaugural office space in India, located in the Chandivali area of Mumbai, as reported by The Economic Times.
Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt. Ltd. has leased 1,294 square feet on the ground floor of the Boomerang commercial building in Chandivali, according to property documents obtained through Propstack.
The five-year lease, which is set to commence on October 14, 2025, entails a monthly rental fee of ₹ 3.52 lakh and includes an annual escalation clause of 5%. Additionally, the company has provided a security deposit of ₹ 31.7 lakh, as stated in the report.
Read Also: Musk’s Starlink reapplies for approval in India: What its direct-to-device technology brings to you
Original source: https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/
