SpaceX founder Elon Musk proposed Starlink satellite internet services for connectivity in underserved regions of India, particularly in rural areas.
Musk stated in a social media post on Wednesday local time: 'Starlink will help the least privileged in India, especially in rural areas.' His comment was a reaction to a post by the X account DogeDesigner, which also advocated for providing Starlink services in India to connect remote villages.
According to DogeDesigner's data, as of May 2026, 11,256 registered villages in India lacked 4G coverage. In March 2026, India had 1.093 billion internet subscriptions, but only 440.87 million of them were in rural areas. The density of rural subscriptions was 48.31 per 100 people, compared to 126.80 in urban areas of India.
Musk's comments came amid reports that Starlink submitted a new application to provide satellite communication services in India. Previously, the Indian National Centre for Space Promotion and Authorization rejected Starlink's application for its second-generation network, noting that some features and planned radio frequencies did not meet Indian requirements. The Gen 2 system includes direct device connectivity capabilities.
Starlink, managed by Musk's SpaceX, provides internet access through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites and continues to seek regulatory approvals to launch its services in India.