Starlink India cleared to offer satellite broadband with Aadhaar eKYC

The Unique Identification Authority of India has formally onboarded Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd as a SubAuthentication User Agency and a sub eKYC user agency, enabling Aadhaar-based verification for onboarding new customers. The government has cleared Starlink to begin offering satellite broadband services in the country, with initial capacity estimated at about 20 lakh users. Starlink has also disclosed partnerships with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio as part of its rollout plan, and industry observers expect the service to come to market in the near term, subject to ongoing regulatory and infrastructure requirements. Aadhaar-based eKYC will be voluntary for customers, aligning with existing norms while aiming to streamline verification, speed up onboarding, and reduce reliance on paper-driven processes.

Under the arrangement, Starlink will use Aadhaar authentication to verify customers before onboarding. The onboarding with Aadhaar authentication is described by officials as a significant synergy between India’s trusted digital identity framework and advanced satellite technology. By leveraging Aadhaar eKYC, the process is expected to be smoother, more secure,...