Starlink wins India’s final approval for launch.

(Reuters) – On Wednesday, India’s space authority gave Starlink a licence to begin commercial operations in the nation, removing the sole remaining regulatory obstacle for the satellite operator to join the market.

Elon Musk’s company has been waiting for commercial licensing in India since 2022. It acquired a critical launch permit from India’s telecom ministry last month, but is still awaiting approval from India’s space authority.

Starlink’s permit is valid for five years, according to India’s space regulator, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

Reuters reported earlier today, citing sources, that Starlink had obtained the license from IN-SPACe.

Starlink would be the third business to get India’s approval to enter the space industry, after proposals from Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio to provide services in the nation.

Starlink will now need to obtain government spectrum, establish ground infrastructure, and show compliance with security regulations through testing and trials.

Musk and billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio fought for months over how India should allocate airwaves for satellite services. India’s government agreed with Musk that spectrum should be allocated rather than auctioned.