Highlights
- Starlink confirmed that the viral India pricing screenshots were placeholder data accidentally published, not official plans.
- The service is still awaiting final clearance from the Government of India with rollout preparations ongoing across major cities.
- Starlink is building gateway earth stations, hiring in Bengaluru and partnering with Maharashtra to expand satellite broadband to remote regions.
Starlink’s much-anticipated entry into India sparked fresh buzz this week after its local website briefly displayed what looked like official broadband plans. Screenshots of the pricing spread rapidly across social media, but the excitement was short-lived. The company has now confirmed that the prices were not real and were unintentionally pushed live due to a technical error.
Starlink Clarifies India Website Glitch
Lauren Dreyer, VP of Starlink Business Operations, addressed the situation on X, explaining that the leaked figures were simply placeholder data. She stated that the “Starlink India website is not live” and added that the information seen online “does not reflect what the cost of Starlink service will be in India.”
The Starlink India website is not live, service pricing for customers in India has not yet been announced, and we are not taking orders from customers in India.
There was a config glitch that briefly made dummy test data visible, but those numbers do not reflect what the cost… https://t.co/TU8cUjcYGL
— Lauren Dreyer (@LaurenDreyer) December 8, 2025
Dreyer reiterated that Starlink has not launched in India and is not accepting orders, contrary to early reports from several platforms.
The glitch displayed a residential plan priced at Rs 8,600 per month along with a Rs 34,000 hardware kit including the dish, Wi-Fi router, mounting equipment and cables. The page also mentioned unlimited data, 99.9% uptime, reliable operation during harsh weather and even hinted at location-based pricing and a possible business plan. Although those details were incomplete.
Despite the quick fix, the brief listing triggered widespread debates on affordability and rollout timelines.
When Will Starlink Launch in India?
Following Dreyer’s clarification, attention shifted back to the central question about Starlink’s official launch date. India remains in the “pending regulatory approval” stage on the company’s availability map, and while preparations have been underway for months, the service cannot go live without the government’s final clearance. However, industry chatter suggests progress is being made and Starlink appears confident about launching soon.
“We’re eager to connect the people of India with Starlink’s high-speed internet, and our teams are focused on obtaining final government approvals to turn service (and the website) on,” Dreyer said.
Starlink India Launch Plans
Reports indicate Starlink is laying the groundwork across several Indian cities. The company is said to be planning gateway earth stations essential for linking satellites to users in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Noida. This will help provide stable, low-latency connectivity once services begin.
Hiring activity has also increased. Starlink recently posted multiple job openings at its Bengaluru office, particularly in finance and treasury roles, signalling that backend operations are being prepared for the commercial rollout. Positions include Payments Manager, Senior Treasury Analyst, and Tax Manager.
Even before its launch, Starlink is attracting interest from state governments. Maharashtra has officially taken the lead by signing a Letter of Intent with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited. The partnership aims to bring satellite broadband to remote regions such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv, and Washim. The agreement was announced in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and IT Minister Ashish Shelar. Fadnavis welcomed the Starlink team in Mumbai, calling it an “honour” for the state to collaborate with the company.
Currently, the company is reportedly waiting Government of India’s final approval. Once cleared, Starlink will compete with Jio-SES and Eutelsat OneWeb, while also expanding India’s satellite internet ecosystem.
FAQs
Q1. Were the Starlink India broadband prices that went viral real?
Answer. No. Starlink confirmed the figures were placeholder data accidentally published due to a technical glitch.
Q2. Has Starlink officially launched in India yet?
Answer. Not yet. The service is still awaiting final government approval and is not accepting orders.
Q3. What preparations is Starlink making for its India rollout?
Answer. The company is building gateway earth stations in cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad, hiring staff in Bengaluru, and partnering with Maharashtra to expand satellite broadband to remote regions.