Starlink has clarified that it has not announced any official pricing for its India services after a website glitch displayed a monthly subscription amount of Rs 8600, creating speculation about the company’s launch plans. The error appeared temporarily on Starlink’s website, where test data was mistakenly made visible, prompting users to believe that the company had finalised its pricing for residential connections in India. The company has stated that the information was not representative of actual service plans.
According to Starlink executives, the displayed numbers were part of placeholder details used in internal testing. The company emphasised that it has not yet received the necessary regulatory approvals required to begin commercial operations in the country. Until permissions are secured, Starlink will not announce pricing, service tiers or rollout timelines. The company reiterated that no commercial decisions can be communicated before the regulatory process is complete.
The confusion began when users spotted a tariff of Rs 8600 per month on the Starlink India webpage along with references to expected hardware costs. The pricing appeared significantly higher than traditional broadband tariffs in India, leading to online debate about Starlink’s potential positioning in the market. Shortly after the information surfaced, representatives from the company clarified that the data was a result of a technical lapse and did not reflect any real pricing strategy.
Starlink is awaiting approval from the Indian government to operate as a satellite broadband provider. The Department of Telecommunications is currently evaluating various aspects of the company’s application, including spectrum needs, licensing compliance and security requirements. Starlink has said that it will share definitive details only after regulatory clearance is obtained. The company also noted that it aims to work closely with the authorities to meet all necessary guidelines.
The company has maintained that India is a priority market due to its large rural population and demand for high speed connectivity in regions where conventional broadband infrastructure remains limited. Low Earth orbit satellite networks like Starlink are designed to provide internet access in areas underserved by fibre and mobile networks. Analysts believe that satellite broadband has the potential to complement existing telecom services in remote geographies.
Industry experts say that any eventual pricing from Starlink is likely to depend on regulatory conditions, hardware imports, operational costs and local market strategies. Satellite based internet typically carries a higher cost structure compared to terrestrial broadband due to infrastructure, maintenance and equipment requirements. This means pricing in India may differ from conventional telecom services but could still be valuable for areas lacking reliable connectivity.
In previous statements, Starlink has said that it aims to make the service accessible for Indian users while balancing the cost of satellite deployment and ground systems. However, the company has not committed to any specific numbers for monthly plans or device charges. The temporary appearance of test data does not indicate the range in which pricing may eventually fall.
Starlink’s vice president clarified that the website is still under development for the Indian region and is not live for commercial use. The company is currently limiting its India related communication to updates on approvals, compliance and ongoing coordination with authorities. It has also reminded users that preorders are not available in India and that customers should avoid relying on any unofficial information circulated online.
The incident has brought renewed attention to Starlink’s plans for India, which have been watched closely by the telecom sector. Satellite broadband has been identified as one of the potential contributors to improving connectivity in hard to reach areas. However, experts note that regulatory frameworks for satellite internet providers need to be fully established before large scale deployment begins.
Starlink has been expanding globally and currently operates in numerous countries across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. India represents a significant market opportunity due to its geography and digital expansion goals. The company has indicated that once approvals are obtained, it hopes to roll out services in phases based on demand and infrastructure readiness.
The company’s earlier attempts to begin prebooking in India in 2021 faced regulatory hurdles, after which the Department of Telecommunications instructed Starlink to halt bookings until licenses were secured. Since then, the company has reiterated its commitment to aligning with all Indian regulatory requirements before launching commercial operations.
The recent glitch does not change the company’s current status in India, and Starlink has stated that it will make official announcements through proper channels once the regulatory process is complete. For now, no final decisions have been made on pricing, timelines or availability.
The company has assured users that it will continue to update its India webpage responsibly and urged the public to rely only on verified information shared through official communication. Until licensing permissions are granted, Starlink’s India plans remain in the preparation phase.