According to reports, Elon Musk Starlink may soon offer satellite internet services in India. The billionaire entrepreneurs project is currently available in 32 countries worldwide, and its services played a significant role in Ukraine during the communication blackout triggered by Russia’s war with that country. Starlink internet services use dedicated channels from satellites orbiting the Earth instead of copper wires or standard cellular networks. SpaceX, the company that operates the satellites, has launched over 4,000 and plans to send even more.

The satellite broadband service can provide high-speed connectivity even in rural areas where traditional wired or wireless connections are unavailable. It can also be used where it isn’t easy to run cables to the area due to terrain or other factors. During the beta testing phase, Starlink offered 50-150 Mbps speeds. The company has said that these speeds will be doubled by the end of 2021.

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Per a recent update posted by SpaceX on Twitter, the company’s Starlink internet services are now available in 32 countries. Its updated map shows that people in areas marked as ‘Available’ can get their Starlink terminals shipped immediately. People living in areas marked as ‘Awaiting’ can expect their terminals to be shipped sometime soon, with much of Asia falling under that category.

However, the Indian government has warned SpaceX to acquire the proper license to operate its Starlink satellite internet service there. The Ministry of Telecommunications reportedly told Starlink in December to stop ‘booking/rendering the service’ in India without a commercial license. Starlinks Country Director Sanjay Bhargava said in a LinkedIn post last month that the company planned to use 80% of its terminals shipped to India for rural areas.

Reuters reported that Starlink is in contact with government agencies to decide how it will offer its services in India. It aims to connect ten rural Lok Sabha constituencies during the 2022 elections. The Reuters report also states that the company is improving its infrastructure to provide faster and more reliable services.

In addition to India, Starlink satellite broadband internet is already available in Australia and New Zealand. It is also undergoing trials in Israel and hopes to launch there this year. In the long term, it plans to provide internet access to all nations and regions that do not have enough infrastructure to support their terrestrial networks. The company has said it will eventually create a global network of over 42,000 satellites connecting every home and business. This will also help create smart cities powered by renewable energy. This will allow for better disaster recovery and enable governments to monitor remote areas during natural disasters or other emergencies. This is a significant upgrade from current satellite internet services, which are often limited to the major urban centers of developed countries.