Starlink says leaked India prices were placeholders as launch awaits regulatory approval
A brief website glitch reignited interest in Starlink’s India launch, but regulatory hurdles continue to keep the rollout on hold.
Elon Musk’s satellite communications company, Starlink, stirred up a wave of reactions after pricing details suddenly appeared on its India webpage. For a brief moment, it looked like the company was quietly rolling out its service, until it turned out to be a glitch.
The page showed a monthly price of Rs 8,600 and a one-time hardware fee of Rs 34,000. Screenshots spread quickly, and many assumed Starlink had finally launched in the country. But that wasn’t the case. Starlink later clarified that the numbers were dummy test data that became visible due to a configuration error. None of the figures reflected actual pricing, and the company says real plans won’t be announced until it receives final government clearance.
Lauren Dreyer, VP of Starlink Business Operations, addressed the confusion in a post on X, noting that the India site isn’t live, no pricing has been set, and the company isn't accepting orders. She confirmed the numbers were placeholders that accidentally went public.
Now that Starlink has responded, the leaked prices can be safely ignored. But the incident highlights an ongoing issue: Starlink’s India entry remains stuck in regulatory limbo. The service is still listed as “pending regulatory approval,” with no confirmed launch timeline.
Adding to the slowdown, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently upheld its original recommendations for satellite spectrum fees, pushing back against changes proposed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). That disagreement has kept the rollout stalled.
For now, Starlink in India remains what it has been for months: signals of progress, plenty of anticipation, and a long wait.
Emmanuel Umahi
