Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to formally ink a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink, marking the company’s India debut. The deal targets deployment of satellite-internet services for government institutions, rural communities and critical infrastructure across remote and underserved areas — including aspirational districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim and Dharashiv.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the tie-up as a “giant leap towards future-ready Maharashtra” aligned with the Digital India mission. Starlink’s technology — using low-earth-orbit satellites — promises broadband speeds and reaches where traditional fibre or mobile networks struggle.

The pilot phase will focus on tribal schools, primary health centres, disaster-control rooms, forest & coastal outposts, and key infrastructure corridors. A joint working group will set milestones at 30-, 60- and 90-day intervals. Still, commercial rollout hinges on regulatory clearances from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and compliance with security norms.

In summary, this partnership signals a tangible move to bridge the digital divide in India — marrying cutting-edge global satellite infrastructure with local governance and inclusion goals.