'Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas': Elon Musk
Elon Musk is advocating for the launch of Starlink satellite internet in India to improve connectivity in rural and underserved regions. The company is currently in discussions with the Indian government regarding regulatory frameworks and spectrum allocation.
Why it matters
Satellite internet could bridge the digital divide in India's remote areas where traditional infrastructure is difficult or costly to deploy.
Elon Musk has backed Starlink’s satellite internet service for India, saying it could help bridge connectivity gaps for some of the country’s “least served” communities, particularly in rural areas.Taking to X, the tech mogul said, “Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas.” Musk made the remark while resharing a post by DogeDesigner, which said more than 11,000 of India’s listed villages had no access to 4G as of May.The post cited data claiming that the country had 1.093 billion internet subscriptions as of March 2026, including 440.87 million in rural areas. Rural internet density stood at 48.31 subscriptions per 100 people, compared with 126.80 in urban areas.It also highlighted the progress made under BharatNet, saying more than 850,000 route-km of fibre had been laid and around 221,000 Gram Panchayats had been made service-ready.
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