Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Starlink India on Wednesday, April 1, to introduce advanced satellite connectivity technology in the state.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma shared to X that he witnessed the “signing of an MoU between the Government of Meghalaya and Starlink India”.
Sangma said, “Over the past 8 years, we have strengthened infrastructure, adopted technology and improved governance, reducing processes that used to take 30 days to just 3 days. Yet connecting our most remote schools, health centers and communities remains a challenge.”
“Our partnership to introduce advanced satellite technology is an important step towards bridging this gap. This initiative will help save lives through better access to healthcare, improve educational opportunities for students and improve livelihoods for farmers and rural communities,” Sangma added.
He also shared the government’s vision to transform Shillong into an IT and technology hub in the Northeast – “creating opportunities for our talented youth and building a strong digital ecosystem for the future”.
“Meghalaya has seen a credible transformation through technology and we hope this collaboration will help us reach the farthest corners of our state and truly transform people’s lives,” wrote Conrad K Sangma on X.
Startlink issues a statement
Meanwhile, Elon Musk-led Starlink issued a statement on Wednesday, according to PTI, saying the company has collaborated with the Meghalaya government to explore options for providing high-speed satellite internet in the state.
Starlink has received a Letter of Intent from the Center to start satcom services in the country, but is yet to meet the criteria required for a licence.
“A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed today between the Government of Meghalaya and Starlink India. This collaboration seeks to explore the possibilities of providing high-speed internet connectivity through the much-awaited satellite technology offered by Starlink,” Starlink said in a statement quoted by PTI.
“Through this collaboration, the government will pilot Starlink satellite high-speed internet connectivity in the state. This marks a bold step to ensure that the benefits of digital technology reach every nook and corner of the state,” the statement said.
The pilot project will begin after Starlink acquires the spectrum to roll out services in the country.
The LoI was signed in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
The event was attended by senior Starlink officials including Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX, Lauren Dreyer, VP Starlink Business Operations, Prabhakar Jayakumar, Country Head, Starlink India.
