Maharashtra has become first Indian state to sign an agreement with Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt. Ltd. to deploy satellite-based internet services across government bodies, rural institutions, coastal zones, and remote tribal regions.

This partnership aligns with the state’s major missions:

• Digital Maharashtra Mission
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Program
• Coastal Development Program
• Disaster Resilience & Emergency Response Strategy

The agreement strengthens digital inclusion, connectivity for social infrastructure, and tech-enabled governance.

Key Highlights of Agreement

Signing of Letter of Intent (LOI)

• LOI signed between:
  • Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt. Ltd.
  • Department of Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra
• Deployment will begin only after regulatory approvals from:
  • Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India

Areas to Be Connected

Starlink connectivity will cover remote and underserved regions including:

• Tribal schools
• Primary Health Centres (PHCs)
• Government & Zilla Parishad schools
• Forest outposts
• Disaster control rooms
• Coastal police networks
• Ports and coastal vehicles
• Aspirational districts:
  • Gadchiroli
  • Nandurbar
  • Dharashiv (Osmanabad)
  • Washim

Connectivity for Key Corridors

• Samruddhi Mahamarg (Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg)
• Ferries & coastal transport network
• Ports & coastal surveillance systems

This supports:

• Education
• Telemedicine
• Disaster communication
• Coastal monitoring
• Rural development

90-Day Pilot Rollout

• A joint working group will oversee:
  • 30-day milestone
  • 60-day milestone
  • 90-day milestone
• Quarterly review chaired by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra

Pilot Phase Focus

• Connecting government schools, tribal schools, PHCs, Aaple Sarkar Centres
• High-speed satellite internet for:
  • Telemedicine
  • Smart classrooms
  • Disaster response
  • Emergency communication
  • Coastal surveillance
• Training and capacity-building for:
  • Local communities
  • State agencies
  • Technical personnel

Why Maharashtra–Starlink Deal Matters

• Addresses connectivity gaps in forested, tribal, and hilly terrains
• Strengthens disaster management (cyclones, floods, coastal emergencies)
• Supports EV infrastructure, especially in areas lacking mobile/fibre networks
• Enhances governance efficiency through real-time internet access in remote zones
• Improves outcomes in:
  • School education
  • Health services
  • Rural digital literacy
  • Digital payments & e-governance

About Starlink

• A global satellite internet constellation by SpaceX (USA)
• Founded by Elon Musk
• Operates at Low-Earth Orbit (LEO): ~550 km
• Provides:
  • High-speed broadband
  • Low-latency internet
  • Access in rural & remote regions
• Uses thousands of interconnected LEO satellites for global coverage

Starlink Key Features

• High-speed broadband capable of streaming, gaming, video conferencing
• Low latency (~25 ms) due to low altitude
• Inter-satellite optical links (ISLs)– satellites communicate with each other
• AI-based autonomous collision avoidance
• Compact flat-panel terminals for easy installation
• Uses Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy reusable rockets for cost-effective launches

How Starlink Works

• LEO satellites orbit much closer than geostationary satellites (GEO at 35,786 km)
• Shorter distance = lower lag + faster data transfers
• Thousands of satellites create a mesh network in space
• Optical inter-satellite links reduce dependency on ground stations

About Maharashtra

• Capital: Mumbai
• Second Capital: Nagpur
• Largest District: Ahmadnagar
• Known for:
  • India’s largest coastline on the western side after Gujarat
  • Highly urbanised state
  • Major tribal belts: Nandurbar, Gadchiroli, Palghar

Key Facts

Aspirational Districts

• Part of NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme (ADP)
• Aim: Improve health, education, agriculture, infrastructure & governance
• Maharashtra’s aspirational districts include: Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim, Dharashiv

DoT (Department of Telecommunications)

• Under Ministry of Communications
• Regulates telecommunications, spectrum management, and satellite licensing in India

About LEO vs GEO

Feature	LEO (Starlink)	GEO (Traditional)
Altitude	550 km	35,786 km
Latency	~25–40 ms	600+ ms
Coverage	Smaller footprint, many satellites	Wide coverage, fewer satellites
Best for	High-speed broadband, remote areas	TV broadcasting

Samruddhi Mahamarg

• India’s longest access-controlled expressway after Purvanchal Expressway
• Connects Mumbai – Nagpur
• Boosts logistics, EV charging, and digital corridor development

Why This Partnership Is a National Precedent

• Maharashtra is the first state to formalize Starlink deployment
• Sets a model for:
  • Rural-connectivity via space technology
  • Disaster network modernization
  • Coastal & tribal development
  • Digital governance in remote areas