BREAKING: Starlink Direct to Cell moves a step closer to India as TRAI backs satellite-to-phone service.

Today, India’s telecom regulator recommended letting mobile operators use their existing frequencies to connect phones directly to satellites. Starlink India formally asked for this in May.

If the government adopts the proposal, SpaceX could work with an eligible Indian carrier to let people with compatible phones send texts even where there’s no cell tower signal.

TRAI also proposed a new authorisation that would let satellite companies like SpaceX sell network capacity to licensed Indian operators. The recommendations are now with India’s Department of Telecommunications.