Now satellite-based internet service will reach remote, underserved areas: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, November 5, 2025: The MoU between Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (Starlink) and the Department of Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra will make state-of-the-art technology available. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that this will pave the way for extending satellite-based internet services to remote and underserved areas of the state.
The MoU was signed by Starlink Vice President Lauren Dreyer and Maharashtra Government Information Technology Secretary Virendra Singh in the presence of Chief Minister Fadnavis, making Maharashtra the first state in India to formally partner with Starlink.
Chief Minister Fadnavis was speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (Starlink) and the Information Technology Department of the Government of Maharashtra. On this occasion, Information Technology Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar, Secretary, Information Technology Department Virendra Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Department Vikas Kharge, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department Vikas Chandra Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department Dr. Govindaraj, Principal Secretary, Rural Development Department Eknath Dawle, Principal Secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation Department Vinita Ved-Singhal, Secretary, Industries Department P. Anbalgan, Chief Investment and Policy Advisor to the Chief Minister Kaustubh Dhavase, CEO of SpaceX Lauren Dreyer, Starlink Limited Company Representative Manoj Ladwa, General Manager, MahaIT Makarand Kurtadikar were present.
As Starlink partners with Maharashtra, we are bridging the digital divide to the last village in the state. Every school, every health centre and every village, no matter how remote, will now be digitally connected. This partnership is a symbol of our commitment to building a 'future-ready' and fully connected Maharashtra. We are proud to be the first state in India to launch this partnership. This will be a model for 'Digital India' at the rural level, said Chief Minister Fadnavis.
Our mission is to provide high-speed internet to people from all backgrounds, anywhere, and we are honored to be part of this historic partnership with the Government of Maharashtra. Starlink’s mission is to connect people who are otherwise excluded from traditional infrastructure to the digital world. Maharashtra’s inclusive and resilient vision for digital development is a perfect fit for us. Together, we will set an example by empowering education, healthcare, and rural communities through satellite internet,” said Lauren Dreyer, Vice President, Starlink.
This will provide satellite-based internet services to government agencies, rural communities, and critical public infrastructure. The partnership is subject to regulatory and legal approvals from the Government of India.
Under this strategic partnership, the Government of Maharashtra and Starlink will work together to connect remote and underserved areas of the state with the help of cutting-edge technology. This includes tribal schools, primary health centers, disaster control rooms, forest outposts, coastal areas, as well as the districts of Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim.
The initiative aims to provide satellite-based connectivity to important infrastructure routes in the state (such as Samruddhi Highway, ferry services, ports, coastal police network). It also plans to provide the benefits of smart connectivity in the education and telemedicine sectors.
A joint working group will be formed for this initiative. This working group will complete the 90-day pilot phase in three phases of 30, 60 and 90 days. This progress will be reviewed every quarter under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.
The Maharashtra-Starlink collaboration will further accelerate the state's flagship mission of 'Digital Maharashtra', and the initiative will be integrated in line with the state's EV, coastal development and disaster resilience programs.
Main objectives of the pilot phase:
After the pilot phase is completed, this initiative will be expanded across the state, making Maharashtra a national leader in satellite-based digital infrastructure.
Starlink is the world's most advanced low-Earth orbit satellite constellation, providing reliable, high-speed broadband internet. The network is developed and operated by SpaceX, the world's leading launch services provider and the only company to own reusable rocket technology.
