Elon Musk's Starlink has received anticipated state approval in India, opening the door to enter the world's second-biggest internet market after China

Technology development and innovation executive Channa Seneviratne said in a blog post that “500-plus” messages had been sent so far in the live trial, which is running “in areas outside of Telstra’s mobile network coverage in NT, WA, Qld and NSW”.

Starlink, operated by Musk's aerospace company SpaceX, aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure. The approval in Saudi Arabia marks a significant expansion of the service, which is already available in over 125 countries.

India's satellite broadband sector is gaining momentum but access, affordability, and timely policy execution remain key hurdles ahead.

The introduction of Starlink in India could significantly impact SpaceXs revenue. Capturing just 1% of Indias consumer broadband market might generate nearly $1 billion annually for SpaceX.