Starlink India Ready As SpaceX Awaits Clearances And Plans $40 Billion AI Push

Starlink has completed the infrastructure and operational preparations for its proposed satellite communication services in India and is awaiting spectrum allocation and security clearance before it can begin commercial operations, a senior company executive said at India Mobile Congress 2026.

Lauren Dreyer, vice-president of Starlink Business Operations, said the company had worked with Indian regulators for the past five years and invested in ground infrastructure and local operations in preparation for a potential launch.

“We’ve built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer for India, and keeping Indian user data within India,” Dreyer said.

Starlink has established 20 gateway sites in India, comprising hundreds of antennas, and has set up its local operations. The company has also partnered with telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.

Starlink is one of three companies to have received licences from the Centre to provide satellite communication services in India, alongside Airtel and Jio. However, all three still require spectrum allocation and security clearance before commercial services can begin.

Dreyer said Starlink's investment could help address connectivity gaps in areas where extending conventional telecom infrastructure is difficult, particularly at the last mile.

“For the past five years, Starlink has been working closely with Indian regulators and we’ve already made the investment and built the existing ground infrastructure here, 20 gateway sites comprising hundreds of antennas, and we’ve established the operations here in India, to be ready to serve India,” she said.

Starlink's parent company, SpaceX, has also strengthened its links with India's space sector. Dreyer highlighted SpaceX's work with the Indian Space Research Organisation, including satellite launches and the mission that carried Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to and from the International Space Station.

She said SpaceX had also conducted two dedicated missions and 19 rideshare missions for Indian space companies seeking to place satellites in orbit.

Meanwhile, SpaceX is reportedly seeking about $40 billion in loans and investment-grade debt to finance the purchase of Nvidia AI chips as it expands its computing infrastructure. The company is looking to raise about $10 billion through bank loans and another $30 billion through investment-grade debt, the Financial Times reported.

Apollo Global Management is expected to lead the financing, while Pimco is among lenders in talks. The transaction is expected to close in 2027.

Musk has said SpaceX plans to use Nvidia hardware exclusively for its data centres. The fundraising comes as AI infrastructure costs soar, with Morgan Stanley estimating that the sector will require $1.5 trillion in external financing by 2028.

The reported financing follows SpaceX's $8.57 billion June IPO, underscoring the scale of investment behind Musk's expanding satellite, space and AI ambitions.