Elon Musk’s Starlink has partnered with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to introduce Aadhaar-based verification for its Indian customers. Announced on August 20 by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, the initiative aims to make the Know Your Customer (KYC) process quicker, paperless, and fully compliant.
Aadhaar meets satellite internet
The ministry said that Aadhaar’s e-KYC and face authentication solution will allow Starlink users to sign up easily and securely. The system, already popular for its convenience, will make customer verification “smooth, secure and very easy,” officials noted. Importantly, Aadhaar authentication will remain voluntary, consistent with existing regulations.
The collaboration was described as a “synergy of trust and technology”, linking one of the world’s most ambitious satellite internet providers with India’s well-established digital identity system. Officials added that the move demonstrates the reliability and scalability of Aadhaar’s digital infrastructure on a global stage.
A formal nod
Starlink has been officially appointed as a Sub-Authentication User Agency and Sub-eKYC User Agency under UIDAI. The announcement took place in the presence of UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, Deputy Director General Manish Bhardwaj, and Parnil Urdhwareshe, Director of Starlink India.
“It highlights how Aadhaar can drive innovation in service delivery while ensuring transparency and accountability,” the ministry said in its statement.
Starlink’s India rollout
Earlier this month, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed that Starlink had secured a Unified Licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). This green light allows the company to provide satellite-based broadband services in India.
Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite network is expected to bridge connectivity gaps in remote and rural areas, offering reliable high-speed internet where traditional networks fall short. Its services will cater to households, enterprises, and institutions that need dependable connectivity.
Growing competition
Starlink has planned a measured entry into a competitive arena, where other satellite internet providers such as Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio SES are also preparing to launch services in India, pending spectrum allocation.
But beyond market rivalry, the Starlink-UIDAI partnership carries broader significance. It represents the coming together of global satellite innovation with India’s trusted digital backbone. If the Aadhaar-enabled onboarding proves successful, it could become a model for how advanced technologies can integrate with local infrastructure to deliver reliable and inclusive connectivity across India.
