• Briefly know what is satellite based broadband connectivity? Its benefits and possible downside. Article ends with Food for Thought. THINK!

The decision to grant or not to grant permission to Starlink has been in the Indian news for a while now.

Background

According to a 2018 article in the Economic Times, “When Pakistani troops took positions in Kargil in 1999, one of the first things Indian military sought was global positioning system (GPS) data for the region called Military Level GPS (very accurate). The space-based navigation system maintained by the US government would have provided vital information, but the US denied it to India. A need for an indigenous satellite navigation system was felt earlier, but the Kargil experience made the nation realise its inevitability. 

The GPS was named NavIC ('Navigation with Indian Constellation' whose Hindi meaning is 'sailor' or 'navigator'), after the launch of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). With seven satellites, the NavIC covers only India and its surroundings and is considered to be more accurate than the American system. 

NavIC will provide standard positioning service to all users with a position accuracy of 5 metre. The GPS, on the other hand, has a position accuracy of 20-30 metre. The indigenous navigation system is believed to have cost ISRO around Rs 1,400 crore, and will aid terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, vehicle tracking and fleet management, disaster management etc.” Source

So was NavIC used during Operation Sindoor?

Yes. According to article in BharatShakti.in titled How ISRO Satellites Backed IAF’s Decisive Blows During Operation Sindoor, “NavIC Delivered high-precision geolocation data to guide missiles, aircraft, and drones with pinpoint accuracy.” This Indian Express article says, “India’s indigenous navigation and guidance system depends on the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) system of satellites, which is complemented by an array of very high-resolution earth observation satellites. NavIC is said to achieve positional accuracy of 10 to 20 cm.”

What is the purpose of Starlink and how does it work?

Its aim is to provide low-cost, high-speed broadband internet and is said to be useful for consumers in remote villages, mountainous regions and offshore locations (for e.g. Oil rigs in sea) who lack reliable access through smart phones or fixed line connectivity.

The lower altitude of Starlink satellites (about 550 kms from Mother Earth) result in improved connectivity. Like cell phones are connected to Cell Towers and home fibre through fibre-optic cables, Starlink equipment would be connected to a satellite.

Read  How Starlink differs from traditional networks Excerpts – ‘Satellite services can be interrupted by bad weather conditions. Low Earth Orbit based satellite are expensive to deploy and operate which could result in higher prices’ in a price sensitive market like India.’ Read  How much will Starlink in India cost Jio, Airtel pricing is very competitive, they have expanded the market.  

The government or telecom companies need to tell the country what is the extent of internet penetration in urban and rural India indicating fixed line and smart phone separately. And what steps are being taken to increase penetration. If connectivity can be improved by existing telecom players, why go in for satellite based broadband connectivity.

There are other issues on which one needs clarity – will the data server be situated inside or out of India, how will introduction of 6G impact the demand for satellite based broadband connectivity. Lastly, every satellite has limited capacity – a single satellite can take limited customers in a region unlike fixed line where more optic cables need to be placed.

Possible Downside of using Starlink in India

Now if suppose there is a war between India and China and a Jawan uses a Starlink instrument for connectivity, the U.S. government may direct Starlink USA not to provide satellite connectivity to the Indian Armed Forces during the conflict. Situation could be like USA not providing military level GPS during the Kargil conflict. Or it could be used by insurgents in a troubled state like Manipur and smugglers. Source It could be used by smugglers and their networks between say Manipur and Myanmar or West Bengal and Bangladesh! How will security agencies control?

If the routing of the connection is directly between Starlink India or USA and the consumer, would they be subject to the same rules, checks and balances as any other ISP (Internet Service Provider)? Read Implications of Starlink entry to India and Starlink set to face stringent security and regulatory measures  

Russia Ukraine War

Across the world, we are witnessing the growing role of satellite technology in both civilian life and military strategy. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Starlink played a pivotal role in keeping Ukrainian communications alive but not without controversy. At a critical moment, it was not a NATO general or elected government who made a decision about connectivity, it was a tech CEO, thousands of miles away.

I am not against Starlink or any company providing similar technology because it is for mutual benefit. This is not about opposing progress or foreign technology. It is about ensuring that any partnership enhances India’s sovereignty not compromises it. Regulation, reciprocity, and accountability must come before rollout.

Food for thought

India stands at a crossroads where decisions about technology will directly influence our strategic autonomy for decades to come. As conversations intensify around the licensing of Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet network, it is important we approach the matter not just with optimism for progress, but with a clear-eyed understanding of its long-term implications.

On the surface, Starlink offers a compelling promise: high-speed satellite internet to even the remotest corners of India. It aligns well with goals like Digital India and internet inclusion. But the real question is at what cost?

Can ISRO or Indian startups provide a similar service to Starlink? Costs would be lower for sure! ISRO typically has national priorities so perhaps it could guide.  

The skies above India must remain under India’s strategic command. Can India build a digital future that’s truly our own? 

Author Rahul is a Mumbai based professional.