| Summary |
|
The Maharashtra government has signed a plan with Elon Musk’s satellite network, Starlink, to bring high-speed internet to remote districts that still lack stable broadband. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, makes Maharashtra the first state in India to formally adopt satellite internet as part of its digital rollout. Officials say the goal is to give schools, health centers, and disaster response teams fast connections without waiting for cables or cell towers.
“With this landmark decision, Maharashtra will lead India in satellite-enabled digital infrastructure.
This is a giant leap towards future-ready Maharashtra. Congratulations, Maharashtra!” Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis posted X.
The trial will run for 90 days. It will begin in tribal schools in Nandurbar and at primary health posts in Washim, where slow or unreliable service has long held back online classes and telemedicine. A government team led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will check the results every month and issue recommendations before wider use.
Starlink uses satellites in low-Earth orbit, flying a few hundred kilometers above the ground. Their short distance cuts network delays to under 50 milliseconds, which is close to the speed of normal broadband in cities. Because these satellites are always moving, signals pass from one to the next as they circle the planet. Each craft uses solar power and lasers to send data between neighbors before it reaches an antenna on the ground.
Maharashtra officials say this avoids the problems of building fiber networks in rough terrain. Rural districts include hills, plateaus, and long forest routes where cables are expensive to lay and often damaged by weather. Many villages also face routine mobile blackouts during storms. Satellite links do not depend on towers, so service continues even when local networks fail.
The state wants to test Starlink for emergency communication too. Police boats along the Konkan coast and control rooms on the Samruddhi Mahamarg highway will use it during the trial. Heavy rain and floods cut several districts off in 2024. Leaders believe satellite coverage could keep rescue teams online through medical calls, tracking data, and live weather reports.
SpaceX has launched thousands of Starlink satellites in recent years using reusable Falcon 9 rockets. Each satellite weighs about 260 kilograms and unfolds a solar array in orbit. As of late 2025, the network has passed 6,000 active satellites worldwide. The company advertises download speeds of 100 to 200 Mbps, enough for video calls, online classes, and digital payments.
Engineers will install small dish antennas. They resemble flat white plates and lock onto satellites through software guidance. Local workers will be trained to maintain and replace them. Government officials say launch costs and hardware prices have dropped due to frequent commercial flights, which makes satellite service cheaper than it was a decade ago.
Astronomers have raised concerns about satellite brightness. Reflections from large constellations have shown up as streaks in long-exposure images. Starlink has said it is testing darker coatings and hardware to reduce glare. The state expects to hold further talks as the network expands.
The agreement fits into the Digital Maharashtra program, which aims to give internet access to every district by the end of the decade. State leaders say the long-term plan includes connected schools, telemedicine hubs, and smart systems for coast security. Data collected from the trial will decide how fast the service expands.
If the pilot works, remote villages that have never had stable internet could come online within months. The next review of the project is expected at the end of the first 30-day report.
