Wed Feb 12 14:45:50 UTC 2025: ## Starlink Launches in Bhutan, Amidst India’s Regulatory Delays

**THIMPHU, BHUTAN** – While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington dominates headlines, Elon Musk’s Starlink has quietly expanded its global reach, launching its satellite internet service in Bhutan. This makes Bhutan the 121st country to receive Starlink services, a significant development considering India’s ongoing regulatory hurdles.

Starlink’s announcement on February 12th, 2025, highlights the contrast between Bhutan’s swift adoption and India’s cautious approach. Indian authorities are reportedly reviewing Starlink’s security arrangements and regulatory processes, citing concerns about security, privacy, pricing, and competition with domestic telecom and satellite industries. The future of Starlink in India may be discussed during PM Modi’s Washington visit, officials stated.

Bhutan’s decision to embrace Starlink, despite the high initial costs (₹33,000 for the kit plus monthly fees ranging from ₹4,200 to ₹2,31000), is driven by the need for alternative connectivity solutions, particularly in remote areas where laying fiber optic cables is challenging. While initial uptake is expected to be among businesses and institutions, individual adoption will depend on pricing competitiveness compared to existing Bhutanese providers. One Bhutanese telecom executive expressed mild concern regarding competition.

Bhutan’s adoption of Starlink is further underscored by the country’s history with SpaceX, having launched its first satellite into space orbit with the company in 2018, four years before its joint satellite launch with ISRO. A planned visit by Musk to India in 2024 to address regulatory issues was ultimately cancelled.

The contrasting approaches of Bhutan and India highlight the complexities of navigating satellite internet deployment, particularly concerning national security and economic implications. The situation in India is further complicated by Reliance Jio Infocomm’s campaign to ensure satellite spectrum is auctioned, rather than administratively assigned, a stance that differs from the practices of many countries where satellite internet services operate.

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