The Government of Goa has held strategic discussions with SpaceX’s Starlink to explore satellite-based digital connectivity initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s technology ecosystem and improving access in rural and remote areas.
According to an official statement, two meetings were convened on December 12, 2025, to examine potential areas of collaboration aligned with Goa’s vision of advancing digital inclusion, fostering innovation, and building resilient connectivity across both urban and underserved regions.
High-level engagement with Starlink leadership
The first meeting was held at the Mantralaya in Porvorim in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant. The Starlink delegation included Ms Lauren Dreyer, Vice President, Starlink Business Operations – Global Access & Operations; Prabhakar Jayakumar, Head of Starlink India; and Manoj Ladwa, Government Affairs Strategist and Chairman, India Global Forum.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted Goa’s progress on its digital transformation roadmap and reiterated the state’s focus on strengthening digital services and public delivery systems.
“Starlink’s interest in Goa would enable the State to leverage high-speed, low-latency satellite broadband to accelerate infrastructure development, enhance government service delivery and support key sectors such as tourism, rural connectivity, education, industry and fisheries that rely heavily on reliable communication networks,” the Chief Minister noted.
Focus on innovation, industry, and last-mile connectivity
A second meeting took place at Taj Cidade de Goa, Dona Paula, and was attended by Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism and Printing & Stationery, Rohan Khaunte. Senior officials present included Dr. V. Candavelou IAS, Chief Secretary of Goa; Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communication; Pravimal Abhishek IAS, Secretary (Science & Technology), Managing Director of Goa Industrial Development Corporation, the Director of Transport, and other senior representatives, alongside Lauren Dreyer and the Starlink team.
Highlighting Goa’s technology-first outlook, Rohan Khaunte said the state is increasingly being recognised by global technology players.
“Goa is witnessing continual growth in emerging technologies, with global companies recognising Goa as an ideal hub for innovation, creation and scaling of technology-driven solutions,” he said.
Discussions explored how Starlink’s global satellite network could support Goa’s development priorities. These include improving rural and shadow-area connectivity, strengthening industrial and electronic manufacturing clusters with high-speed data coverage, enhancing last-mile delivery under the Har Ghar Fibre programme, modernising maritime and fisheries operations through real-time communication, and advancing Goa’s Digital Nomad vision with seamless connectivity.
The roadmap also covered opportunities to support CCTV surveillance at beaches, deploy AV/AR-based visitor guides, connect schools in low-coverage regions under the CARES initiative, and strengthen digital services across tourism infrastructure such as homestays, beach security, and maritime experiences.
Clarification on Starlink pricing in India
The engagement comes amid recent attention around Starlink’s India pricing. The company had briefly displayed monthly pricing of ₹8,600 for its residential service, along with a one-time hardware cost of ₹34,000, on its website.
However, Dreyer later clarified that the information was not final. She explained that a configuration issue had temporarily exposed dummy test data, leading to confusion.
“Those numbers do not reflect what the cost of Starlink service will be in India. The glitch was quickly fixed,” she wrote on X.
The discussions with the Goa government signal early-stage engagement around the role satellite broadband could play in supporting India’s digital inclusion goals, even as regulatory clarity and commercial rollout timelines continue to evolve.
