Starlink denies India pricing leak, calls website display a technical glitch

A brief website misconfiguration showing placeholder plans triggered widespread speculation about Starlink’s India rollout, prompting company leaders to clarify that services have not launched, prices were not final, and regulatory approval remains the only pending step.

Starlink’s potential entry into India dominated online discussions on Monday after its India website briefly displayed what looked like official service plans and pricing. The listings, which appeared for only a short duration, suggested monthly tariffs and hardware costs, instantly sparking excitement among users awaiting the satellite internet service. But Starlink has now clarified that none of the information was accurate.

Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, addressed the confusion directly on X. She explained that a configuration issue accidentally pushed placeholder data onto the website. “Starlink India website is not live,” she noted, adding that the information posted “does not reflect what the cost of Starlink service will be in India.” Dreyer emphasised that the company is not accepting orders and has not yet launched operations in the country.

Placeholder prices lead to debate before being taken down

During the brief window when the site was visible, users spotted a residential plan priced at ₹8,600 per month and a hardware kit listed at ₹34,000. The setup included a Starlink dish, Wi-Fi router, mounts and cabling, mirroring the company’s global offering. The page also mentioned unlimited data and weather-resilient connectivity—features common to Starlink worldwide.

Some observers also noticed signs of location-based testing, with hints of city-specific pricing models and an incomplete business plan. The data was removed quickly, but discussions over affordability and service readiness had already gained traction across social media.

Approvals pending, states begin early partnerships

Despite the mix-up, interest in Starlink’s arrival remains strong. The company continues to await final regulatory clearance, with India still marked as “pending approval” on its availability map. “We’re eager to connect the people of India with Starlink’s high-speed internet,” Dreyer said, adding that teams are focused on obtaining the necessary permissions.

Meanwhile, groundwork appears to be expanding. Reports indicate plans for multiple gateway earth stations in cities such as Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Noida—key infrastructure for low-latency satellite connectivity.

Maharashtra has also become the first state to formalize cooperation, signing a Letter of Intent to bring satellite internet to remote districts including Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim. The announcement, made in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, underscores the rising interest in satellite broadband for underserved regions.

With hiring underway in Bengaluru and backend operations quietly ramping up, Starlink’s India push appears to be accelerating. But the commercial launch will only proceed after regulatory approval, paving the way for Starlink to join Jio-SES and Eutelsat OneWeb in India’s fast-evolving satellite internet landscape.