SpaceX-owned Starlink has kicked off its first phase of on-ground hiring in India, establishing Bengaluru as its operational hub as it navigates final regulatory hurdles for a satellite broadband debut by late 2025 or early 2026.
October 31, 2025: Elon Musk’s satellite broadband venture, Starlink, is making a significant on-ground push in India, signalling its operational readiness ahead of its planned commercial launch. The company has begun its initial recruitment drive, primarily focused on building a robust financial and compliance team.
Hiring and Operational Hub
Job postings on the SpaceX careers portal confirm multiple openings across finance and accounting, including key positions such as Accounting Manager, Payments Manager, Senior Treasury Analyst, and Tax Manager.
- Operational Base: All advertised roles are to be based in Bengaluru, which will function as Starlink’s primary operational base in India.
- Work Model: The company has specified that it will only consider locally based applicants with valid work permits, with no remote or hybrid work options on offer.
- Core Mandate: The new hires will oversee financial reporting, compliance, and manage end-to-end payments and risk operations, working closely with Starlink’s global teams.
Regulatory and Infrastructure Milestones
The hiring move coincides with Starlink’s final steps in meeting India’s stringent security and regulatory requirements for satellite communication services.
- Security Demo: Starlink is currently conducting crucial technical and security demonstration runs in Mumbai on October 30-31 for law enforcement agencies. These tests are mandatory for compliance on lawful interception and other cybersecurity protocols before the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allocates spectrum.
- Ground Stations: The company is rapidly building its ground infrastructure. Officials are expected to inspect three ground stations already set up in Mumbai, which will act as an initial hub. Starlink plans to scale its network to establish 9 to 10 gateway earth stations across the country, including in Mumbai, Chennai, Noida, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Lucknow.
- Physical Presence: Demonstrating its long-term commitment, Starlink has leased a 1,294-sq-ft office in Chandivali, Mumbai, for a five-year term. Lease records indicate a monthly rent of ₹3.52 lakh and a security deposit of ₹31.7 lakh.
Pricing and Competition
Starlink is targeting a commercial service launch in India by late 2025 or early 2026. Industry reports suggest the service will be positioned as a premium option, particularly for underserved rural and remote areas.
| Item | Estimated Price in Indian Rupees (INR) |
| One-time Setup Fee | Approx. ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 |
| Monthly Subscription | Starting from approximately ₹3,000 to ₹4,200 |
Once operational, Starlink will face stiff competition from other key players that have also secured core regulatory approvals, namely Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite. Amazon is also aggressively stepping up hiring for its Project Kuiper unit in India, signalling a heating up of the country’s satellite broadband race.