Elon Musk’s Starlink has once again applied to India’s space regulator for permission to deploy its second-generation satellite network, according to a report by The Economic Times. This fresh report also mentions that the company is seeking approval for direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, which could allow satellites to connect directly with compatible mobile phones.
The report notes that the company has submitted a new application to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) for its Gen 2 constellation.
Starlink Seeks Approval For Nearly 30,000 Satellites
Reportedly, Starlink’s Gen 2 constellation is planned to operate in low Earth orbit (LEO), at an altitude of around 340 to 615 kilometres.
The company is reportedly seeking approval in India for nearly 30,000 satellites under the Gen 2 network.
Starlink had earlier applied for approval for both its Gen 1 and Gen 2 constellations. However, IN-SPACe rejected the earlier Gen 2 application because some of its features and proposed spectrum bands did not meet Indian requirements.
In July 2025, IN-SPACe approved Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation, which consists of 4,408 LEO satellites and is designed to provide traditional satellite broadband services. The latest application comes as India considers allowing more satellite communication capabilities, including direct-to-device services.
Direct-to-device technology allows satellites to connect directly with compatible mobile devices. This means users could potentially get connectivity from satellites without relying on traditional mobile towers in areas where cellular networks are unavailable.
Starlink’s Gen 2 network is expected to support such capabilities, making the new application important for the company’s plans in India. The Economic Times reported that the new application includes D2D technology. However, regulatory approval for such services will be an important step before Starlink can offer them commercially in India.
Starlink Could Have An Edge Over Rivals
If approved, the larger Gen 2 constellation could give Starlink an advantage in terms of satellite coverage and network capacity. Starlink faces competition from several companies looking to offer satellite connectivity in India. These include Reliance Jio’s proposed LEO constellation, Eutelsat OneWeb and Amazon Leo.
Jio has proposed a constellation of around 1,600 LEO satellites, while Starlink is reportedly seeking approval for nearly 30,000 satellites in its latest Indian application.
