India’s digital infrastructure is about to shift orbit. 

Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite internet arm of SpaceX, has received the green light from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to begin operations, following its commitment to adhere to India’s regulatory and national security norms. The approval, confirmed by multiple outlets including India Today Tech, marks a crucial breakthrough after months of negotiations.

But as satellite broadband becomes a real option in India’s internet mix, the question many business leaders and SME owners are asking is: How much will it cost us?

While exact Indian pricing hasn’t been officially announced by Starlink, initial reports suggest monthly service fees could range between ₹3,000 and ₹7,000, depending on region, plan, and usage type.

This estimate comes from India Today Tech and is supported by global pricing benchmarks. Currently, the standard Starlink internet package is priced at around $120/month globally. Translated to Indian pricing norms—and assuming slight localisation to suit price-sensitive markets—experts forecast a range in line with high-end broadband plans.

However, there’s a catch: hardware costs.

To get started, Indian users will need to purchase the Starlink Kit, which includes a satellite dish, Wi-Fi router, power cables, and mounting base. Globally, the base kit is priced at $349 (around ₹30,000). A newer, more compact option—Starlink Mini, aimed at mobile use—is priced higher at $599 (roughly ₹43,000).

Whether Starlink will offer subsidies or localised manufacturing in India to reduce entry barriers for small businesses remains to be seen.

Despite the upfront investment, the value proposition could make sense—especially for enterprises in rural and remote regions, where traditional fibre or mobile broadband is patchy or nonexistent.

"Even if you're paying ₹6,000 a month, that’s far cheaper than the cost of network disruptions, poor customer experience, or logistics failures,” says an unnamed analyst quoted by India Today Tech. “For industries like logistics, agritech, remote healthcare, mining, or infrastructure, the reliability of Starlink could justify the premium.”

Startups in India’s Tier 3 and rural towns have long struggled with uneven connectivity, often forced to juggle between patchy mobile networks and expensive leased lines. Starlink could provide these businesses with low-latency, always-on internet, enabling real-time transactions, video conferencing, remote operations, and cloud-based tools.

What’s the ROI on Starlink for SMEs?

For a small agritech company in rural Gujarat, or a health clinic in Nagaland, the ability to function online without interruption could dramatically expand service delivery and customer reach.

• Digital payments can run uninterrupted in areas where UPI often fails due to weak networks.
  
  

• Telemedicine clinics could connect with urban hospitals in real time, enabling better diagnoses.
  
  

• Rural educators could stream content from global providers without buffering.
  
  

The monthly cost of ₹5,000 might seem steep, but when compared to lost productivity, customer attrition, or infrastructure delays—it could prove a strategic investment.

According to industry estimates reported by India Today Tech, even a modest 1% share of India’s broadband market could net Starlink nearly $1 billion annually. That figure reflects the immense scope for satellite internet in India—where over 300 million people still lack stable internet access.

For India Inc., Starlink represents more than a new service—it signals a new infrastructure model, one not limited by geography or cables.

Challenges still orbiting

Despite the hype, Starlink’s India rollout faces hurdles:

• Price sensitivity: Can small businesses afford the steep monthly and hardware costs?
  
  

• Policy compliance: Starlink must comply with India’s licensing, data localisation, and satellite regulations.
  
  

• Local partnerships: To reduce costs and expand reach, Starlink may need to collaborate with Indian ISPs or infrastructure firms.
  
  

And let’s not forget—Starlink has been in hot water before. In 2021, the Indian government asked the company to stop taking pre-orders without proper licences. This time around, with an LoI in place, the roadmap looks clearer—but not guaranteed.

For businesses in digital black zones, Starlink might be the long-awaited plug into the new economy. But whether the ₹40,000 startup cost and monthly fees make commercial sense will depend on how vital high-speed, uninterrupted connectivity is to their operations.

If Starlink can navigate Indian price sensitivities while maintaining quality, Elon Musk’s satellite internet could become the next big disruptor in India’s broadband story—not just in metros, but in mandis, mines, and mobile vans across the heart of India.