Now Satellite-Based Internet Service Will Reach Remote, Underserved Areas – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

MoU of the Information Technology Department with the Renowned Starlink Company in the Presence of the Chief Minister

Maharashtra becomes the first state in India to partner with Starlink

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : Due to the Memorandum of Understanding between Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (Starlink) and the Information Technology Department of the Government of Maharashtra, ultra-modern technology will become available. With this, a pathway will be created to deliver satellite-based internet service to the remote and underserved areas of the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed.

Chief Minister Fadnavis was speaking at the time of the MoU between Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (Starlink) and the Information Technology Department of the Government of Maharashtra. Present on this occasion were IT Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar, IT Department Secretary Virendra Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department Vikas Kharge, Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture Department Vikashchandra Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department Dr. Govindraja, Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department Eknath Davle, Principal Secretary of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department Vinita Ved-Singhal, Secretary of the Industry Department P. Anbalagan, Chief Investment and Policy Advisor to the Chief Minister Kaustubh Dhavse, CEO of SpaceX Lauren Dreyer, representative of Starlink Limited Manoj Ladwa, and MahaIT General Manager Makarand Kuratadikar.

In the presence of Chief Minister Fadnavis, the MoU was signed by Starlink Vice-President Lauren Dreyer and Secretary of the IT Department of the Government of Maharashtra Virendra Singh. With this, Maharashtra has become the first state in India to formally partner with Starlink.

As Starlink is partnering with Maharashtra, we are closing the digital divide up to the last village of the state. Every school, every health centre, and every village will now come into digital connectivity, no matter how remote. This partnership is a symbol of our commitment to building a ‘future-ready’ and fully connected Maharashtra. We are proud to begin this partnership as the first state in India. This will become an ideal model of ‘Digital India’ at the rural level, Chief Minister Fadnavis said.

Our mission is to provide high-speed internet service to people anywhere, from any background, and it is an honour for us to be part of this historic collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra. Starlink’s mission is to include those deprived of traditional infrastructure into the digital world. Maharashtra’s inclusive and flexible approach to digital development aligns completely with ours. Together we will create an example of empowering education, healthcare, and rural communities through satellite internet, Starlink Vice-President Lauren Dreyer said.

Through this initiative, satellite-based internet service will be provided to government institutions, rural communities, and important public infrastructure. This partnership will depend on regulatory and legal approvals from the Government of India.

Under this strategic partnership, with the help of advanced technology, the Maharashtra Government and Starlink together will work to connect the remote and underserved parts of the state. This includes tribal schools, primary health centres, disaster control rooms, forest outposts, coastal areas, and the districts of Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv, and Washim.

The objective of this initiative is also to provide satellite-based connectivity on important infrastructure routes within the state (such as the Samruddhi Expressway, ferry services, ports, coastal police network). There is also a plan to provide the benefit of smart connectivity in the areas of education and tele-medicine.

A joint working group will be established for this initiative. Under this working group, a 90-day pilot phase will be completed in three stages of 30, 60, and 90 days. The progress will be reviewed every quarter under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

Due to the Maharashtra-Starlink collaboration, more momentum will be given to the state’s key mission of ‘Digital Maharashtra’, and this initiative will be integrated in alignment with the state’s EV, coastal development, and disaster-resilience programmes.

Main objectives of the pilot phase:

• To provide satellite internet connectivity to government and tribal schools, Aaple Sarkar centres, and primary health centres
• Improvement of communication in disaster response and coastal security systems
• To provide facilities in education and healthcare through high-speed internet
• To conduct training and capacity-building programmes for state machinery and local communities

After the pilot phase is completed, this initiative will be expanded across the entire state, making Maharashtra a national leader in satellite-based digital infrastructure.

About Starlink
Starlink is the world’s most advanced low-Earth-orbit satellite system, which provides reliable and high-speed broadband internet. This network is developed and operated by SpaceX. SpaceX is the world’s leading launch-service provider and the only company possessing reusable rocket technology.