New Delhi, May 7 (PTI) The government has issued Letter of Intent to Starlink for satcom services, sources said on Wednesday.

Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX -- the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded in 2002 by world's richest man Elon Musk. It provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet worldwide using satellite technology.

Sources told PTI that the Department of Telecom (DoT) has now issued Letter of Intent to Starlink. Prior to this, the government had issued licences to Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications.

Unlike conventional satellite services that rely on distant geostationary satellites, Starlink utilises the world's largest low earth orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above earth). This constellation of LEO satellites (7,000 now but eventually set to grow to over 40,000) and its mesh delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, and video calls. PTI MBI HVA

Letter of intent for satellite communications issued, enabling Starlink's LEO broadband deployment under telecom authorization framework. The Department of Telecommunications has issued a Letter of Intent to Starlink allowing regulatory progression toward satellite-based broadband services, subject to subsequent licensing, technical approvals, and compliance with India's satcom authorisation framework. This action follows earlier licences to other satellite operators and concerns Starlink's LEO constellation model which delivers low-latency, high-speed internet distinct from geostationary services.