In a landmark move toward bridging India’s digital divide, Maharashtra on Wednesday became the first state in India to officially partner with Elon Musk-owned Starlink to deliver satellite-based internet connectivity across remote and underserved regions.
The Maharashtra government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt. Ltd. to deploy high-speed satellite internet in rural communities, government institutions, and critical public infrastructure, subject to regulatory clearances from the Government of India.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who hailed Starlink as one of the biggest global players in the ICT industry.
“With @Starlink’s cutting-edge satellite technology, led by @elonmusk and @laurendreyer, Maharashtra takes a bold leap forward in bridging the last digital divide—powering education, healthcare, and connectivity in every corner of our State,” the Chief Minister’s Office posted on X.
Connecting the Unconnected
The initiative will initially focus on remote and aspirational districts including Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim, and Dharashiv, where terrestrial internet access remains limited.
The LoI was signed by Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Starlink, and Virendra Singh (IAS), Secretary of the Department of Information Technology, in the presence of CM Fadnavis.
Fadnavis emphasized that the collaboration would strengthen the Digital Maharashtra mission and align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision, ensuring last-mile connectivity for education, telemedicine, governance, and e-commerce in rural zones.
“This is a giant leap toward a future-ready Maharashtra and sets a new benchmark for Digital India at the grassroots,” Fadnavis wrote on X.
Starlink’s Role and India Expansion
Starlink, a division of SpaceX, operates the world’s largest satellite network with over 6,000 active satellites orbiting Earth.
In June 2025, India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granted Starlink a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license, allowing it to provide satellite-based internet services in the country after completing security compliance formalities.
With this, Starlink became the third Satcom provider in India after Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio Satellite Communications.
Starlink Vice President Lauren Dreyer lauded the partnership, saying:
“We are honoured to collaborate with the Government of Maharashtra in this first-of-its-kind initiative. Starlink’s mission is to connect those left behind by traditional infrastructure—no matter where they live.”
Global and National Implications
The development follows Elon Musk’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2025 during the latter’s visit to the U.S., where Starlink’s launch plans and India’s data security concerns were discussed.
Experts say the Maharashtra-Starlink partnership could serve as a template for other Indian states, enabling nationwide digital inclusion through low-orbit satellite technology.
If successful, Maharashtra could become India’s first fully connected state, bringing high-speed internet to millions in previously unreachable areas.
