Starlink begins hiring in Bengaluru ahead of 2026 India launch

Elon Musk’s Starlink, backed by SpaceX, has started a major hiring drive in Bengaluru to prepare for its commercial launch in India by early 2026, marking a key step in bringing satellite internet to the country’s underserved regions.

Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture Starlink, backed by SpaceX, has started a focused hiring drive in Bengaluru, signalling the company’s preparation for a full-scale launch in India by early 2026. This development marks a major milestone in Starlink’s mission to provide high-speed satellite internet access to India’s remote and underserved regions.

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The company has begun recruiting for key on-ground positions in finance, accounting, payments, taxation, and compliance, indicating the start of its operational setup in the country. The open roles, listed on Starlink’s official careers portal and professional networking platforms, include Accounting Manager, Payments Manager, Senior Treasury Analyst, and Tax Manager, all on-site roles based in Bengaluru, which is expected to serve as Starlink’s main operational hub in India.

These teams will manage local financial systems, statutory frameworks, and regulatory compliance, ensuring smooth coordination between Starlink’s global and Indian operations. The move highlights Starlink’s commitment to transparency, legal compliance, and localisation, key requirements for operating in India’s tightly regulated telecom sector.

Before commencing operations, Starlink is working closely with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to meet licensing, cybersecurity, and data storage requirements under India’s telecom and data protection policies. The company must obtain the Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) license before launching its broadband services.

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As part of the security conditions, all data generated during trials must be stored within India, and only Indian nationals can operate Starlink’s gateway earth stations until foreign personnel are approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Once regulatory approvals are complete, Starlink will compete with Reliance Jio Satellite and Eutelsat OneWeb, entering India’s rapidly evolving satellite broadband sector. With its early groundwork in Bengaluru and compliance-focused approach, Starlink is strategically positioning itself to support India’s growing digital infrastructure and connectivity goals.