U.S. company SpaceX may be looking to partner with local manufacturers to develop Starlink components, ahead of an expansion of its beta satellite internet service into a new country.
SpaceX shared plans to form a partnership with local Indian manufacturing firms, in preparations to launch the service within the country as soon as next year, according to The Economic Times.
On Monday, in a meeting with India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Director of Starlink Market Access Matt Botwin said, “SpaceX is excited to find ways to work together with the Indian industry for manufacturing products for its Starlink devices.”
Botwin, emphasizing the company’s hope to maximize supply chain efficiency, continued, saying the company “is now looking forward to working with its partners in India to recognize those opportunities.
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The DoT called the meeting with SpaceX, over plans to discuss a potential path forward for working with local manufacturers for the service, which will provide low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet, especially in remote and rural regions of the country. To do so, the agency and the company discussed ways to establish gateways to the orbital satellite constellation to provide access across the country.
SpaceX has been taking pre-orders for Starlink beta in India, noting service would debut in 2022, with availability subject to regulatory approvals.
Starlink’s satellite constellation is expected to reach complete global coverage in the fall, with SpaceX planning to complete the 4,400-unit satellite constellation by the end of next year.
