Aditi Sharma

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Starlink, the satellite internet business of Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX registered in India Monday. This was as the company prepares to launch Internet services in India.

Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited will be able to help the company apply for the licenses it requires from the government before the company can offer broadband or other satellite-based communication services.

Sanjay Bhargava (country director of Starlink India), said that he was pleased to announce the establishment in India by SpaceX.

Bhargava stated that “we now have the ability to apply for licenses, open banks accounts, and so forth.” He joined the company according to LinkedIn in October.

Starlink, one of many companies that launches small satellites to deliver low latency internet services in low Earth orbits around the world. Starlink focuses its efforts on areas where terrestrial internet infrastructure is not available.

Amazon.com’s Kuiper (NASDAQ:) is its competitor, as well OneWeb co-owned both by India’s Bharti Enterprises in the UK and Britain.

According to Starlink’s filing, Starlink intends to continue its business in India as a telecommunications service provider. This includes satellite broadband internet, streaming content, and storage.

The company will deal with devices like satellite phones and network equipment as well data transmission and receipt equipment.

Starlink also stated that its focus will be on “catalyzing rural growth” in India using broadband services. This was according to Bhargava’s LinkedIn presentation.

Starlink, once it’s allowed to offer services, will give 100 devices free of charge to rural schools in Delhi, and the surrounding districts, when its first phase is complete. This will allow it to target 12 rural Indian districts.

It stated that the company plans to launch 200,000 Starlink devices by December 2022 in India, with 80% in rural regions. Starlink received more than 5,000 pre-orders to its Indian devices.