Meghalaya Govt Signs MoU With Starlink To Pilot Satcom Services

The Meghalaya government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Elon Musk-led Starlink to pilot satellite communications (satcom) services in the state’s remote areas.

Under the partnership, the state government will work with the satcom operator to deploy the satellite broadband service in areas like healthcare, education, and agriculture.

“… Connecting our remotest schools, health centres, and communities remains a challenge. Our partnership to introduce advanced satellite connectivity technology marks an important step toward bridging this gap. This initiative will help save lives through better healthcare access, improve learning opportunities for students, and enhance livelihoods for farmers and rural communities,” said Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma in a post on X.

Sangma also said that the state government is working towards making Shillong into an IT and technology hub in North-East India and build a strong digital ecosystem.

As per Economic Times, the pilot will test whether the technology can reliably deliver high-speed internet across the state before considering a wider rollout.

This comes a month after the satcom operator signed a letter of intent (LoI) with the Gujarat government to enable satellite-based internet connectivity in the state’s remote and border areas. Prior to this in November 2025, Starlink also inked a pact with Maharashtra government to deploy satcom services for government institutions in the state. 

It is pertinent to note that Starlink has received clearance from IN-SPACe to kick start operations in India. It had received similar approvals from the telecom department and TRAI in 2025. However, the company is yet to start commercial services in the country as it has not been allocated satellite spectrum.

The company also still needs fresh approval from IN-SPACe to offer new services like direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity in India. 

However, the company must also complete security compliance requirements and set up ground infrastructure like earth stations. The Elon Musk-led company is planning to set up 20 earth stations or gateways across Noida, Chennai, and Navi Mumbai. Of these, three sites are already under construction.

On the data security front, the Indian authorities have mandated the company to store all user data locally and not use any foreign gateways for routing user traffic. As per previous reports, the company’s user terminal is expected to be priced at around ₹33,000 annually, with a monthly subscription of about ₹3,000.

The post Meghalaya Govt Signs MoU With Starlink To Pilot Satcom Services appeared first on Inc42 Media.