Fadnavis, Musk (File photos)

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra on Wednesday became the first Indian state to partner with Elon Musk’s Starlink for satellite-based internet services. The state government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited to expand high-speed internet access across rural and remote regions. Under the partnership, satellite internet will be deployed in government institutions, public infrastructure and underserved districts, including Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim. The move is part of the state’s Digital Maharashtra mission and aims to strengthen digital connectivity in areas with limited network access. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis shared the news on social media, calling it a landmark moment for Maharashtra. “Elon Musk’s Starlink is one of the largest companies in the ICT sector, operating the world’s biggest constellation of communication satellites. It is our honour that the company is arriving in India and partnering with Maharashtra,” he wrote. Starlink’s India entry comes as the SpaceX-backed venture gears up for a full commercial launch expected by early 2026. According to an Economic Times report, Starlink is building at least nine satellite gateway stations across India, including in Mumbai, Noida, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Lucknow. Starlink will compete directly with Jio Satellite and Eutelsat OneWeb in India’s emerging satellite broadband market. With over 6,000 low-Earth orbit satellites already in operation globally, Starlink aims to bring fast and reliable internet to India’s remotest corners.