Starlink launches services in Sri Lanka

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, officially launched its services in Sri Lanka on July 3, 2025, marking a significant step in expanding digital connectivity across South Asia. This development makes Sri Lanka the third country in the region, after Bhutan and Bangladesh, to grant full access to the service.

The rollout was confirmed by Elon Musk himself on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with the announcement:

“Starlink now available in Sri Lanka!” The launch follows the country’s proactive move to amend its telecommunications laws in 2024, thereby allowing satellite internet operators to provide services legally.

Starlink received a five-year operating license from the Sri Lankan government on August 12, 2024, giving it the green light to provide high-speed satellite-based internet across the island. This technology is especially beneficial for rural and underserved regions, where traditional broadband infrastructure is limited or absent. Satellite internet works by using low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to beam internet signals directly to ground-based terminals, bypassing the need for cable or fiber optics.

The announcement also highlighted the role of Parnil Urdhwareshe, Starlink’s top executive for India, in the South Asian expansion strategy. Urdhwareshe reportedly played a part in both the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi rollouts. In July 2024, he met with Ruwan Wijewardene, the Presidential Adviser on Climate Change in Sri Lanka, and had also met with Zunaid Ahmed Palak, then State Minister for ICT in Bangladesh, prior to the service trials being conducted there, according to a report by the Dhaka Tribune.

In terms of pricing, Starlink’s residential plans in Sri Lanka are set between ₹3,430–₹4,280 (equivalent to 12,000–15,000 LKR) per month. For users opting for portable ‘Roam’ plans, which allow internet access on the move or in remote locations, pricing ranges from ₹4,280–₹8,560 (or 15,000–30,100 LKR). The one-time cost of hardware equipment required to connect to the Starlink satellites is between ₹17,185–₹33,685 (approximately 60,200–1,18,000 LKR). These prices are aligned with Starlink’s offerings in other South Asian markets.

As of March 2025, Sri Lanka had 21.5 million mobile broadband connections (covering both 3G and 4G users) and 2.6 million fixed-line broadband connections, as per data from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. The introduction of Starlink is expected to bolster these numbers and significantly improve connectivity in remote, disaster-prone, or infrastructure-poor areas.

Meanwhile, Starlink is actively seeking regulatory clearance in other South Asian countries. It recently received GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite) authorisation in India, which is an essential regulatory requirement for offering satellite-based services. However, full deployment in India still awaits orbital slot assignments from IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center) and spectrum allocation from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Such regulatory gaps are not unusual and reflect the complex multi-agency coordination required for satellite internet operations.

Outside of South Asia, Starlink has already launched services in several Asian countries, including Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Indonesia. It has also publicly indicated that it is awaiting approvals in Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan, with China being the only neighbouring country where it does not expect to enter.

With this launch, Sri Lanka joins a growing list of nations leveraging Starlink to bridge the digital divide, especially in geographically challenging and underserved regions. The service is not only set to enhance household connectivity but also expected to support critical sectors like education, healthcare, emergency response, remote work, and business operations—thereby contributing to the country's digital transformation goals.

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