New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI): India's space regulator INSPACe has granted a licence to Elon Musk-run Starlink to offer space-based internet services in the country.

"Indian National Space Authorisation and Promotion Centre (INSPACe) granted authorisation to M/s Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, New Delhi (SSCPL) for enabling provisioning of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites constellation, namely Starlink Gen1. The authorisation will enable SSCPL to provide satellite communication services in India," a statement from the space sector regulator said.

The authorisation is valid for a five-year period from the date of authorisation (July 8) or the end of the operational life of the Gen1 constellation -- whichever is earlier.

The rollout of services is subject to the stipulated regulatory provisions and the requisite clearances, approvals and licences from the relevant government departments.

The Starlink Gen1 Constellation is a global constellation with 4,408 satellites orbiting Earth at an altitude between 540 km and 570 km, and is capable of providing an approximately 600-GBPS throughput over India.

Starlink had been eyeing the Indian market since 2022 for launching commercial operations.

Last month, Starlink became the third company after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications to get a licence from the Department of Telecommunications to provide satellite internet services in India.

The companies that have received the licence would, however, have to wait a tad longer for commercial satcom spectrum as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has just recently sent its recommendations on pricing and terms and conditions to the government for its consideration.

The players will be able to start their services after the allocation of radio-wave frequencies.

Typically, even before the commercial spectrum, the trial spectrum is required to test and verify the systems and processes on security parameters to demonstrate that all norms and requirements are being complied with.

Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX -- the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Musk in 2002. It provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet worldwide using satellite technology and is aptly described by some as broadband beamed from the skies.

Unlike conventional satellite services that rely on distant geostationary satellites, Starlink utilises the world's largest Low-Earth Orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above Earth).

Recently, Starlink signed pacts with Ambani's Reliance Jio and Mittal's Bharti Airtel, which together control more than 70 per cent of India's telecom market, to bring the US satellite internet giant's services to the country.

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New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued contempt notices to a litigant and his lawyers for making "scurrilous allegations" against a sitting judge of the Telangana High Court in their plea.

The top court, while issuing the show cause notices to the petitioner and his lawyers, refused to allow withdrawal of the petition, and said, “We cannot permit judges to be out in a box and allow any litigant to make such allegations against a judge. Here we were trying to protect lawyers.”

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a transfer plea filed by petitioner N Peddi Raju filed through advocate-on-record Ritesh Patil.

The petition involved a case in which Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had received relief from a high court in a matter under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

“Here we were trying to protect lawyers, but this kind of conduct cannot be condoned,” the bench, which earlier heard another suo motu case pertaining to summoning of lawyers by the ED for rendering legal advice, said.

“Scurrilous allegations have been made against the sitting judge of Telangana High Court. It has been held (in a judgement) that it is not only a litigant but also a lawyer who signs (the petition) is guilty of contempt of court.

“We thus issue notice to Peddi Raju as well as the lawyers … and the AoR. They are directed to state why contempt should not be initiated against them. Notice returnable on August 11,” the CJI said.

A counsel sought the liberty to withdraw the remarks after the court expressed strong displeasure. However, the bench dismissed the request.

“File apology …we will see whether to consider or not. We will see the apology is genuine or not. When we expressed displeasure at the language, liberty was sought to withdraw. We dismissed the request,” the bench said.

The case stems from the Telangana High Court's decision to quash a criminal case registered against the chief minister under the SC/ST Act.

The petitioner later approached the top court with a transfer plea, alleging bias and impropriety on the part of the high court judge.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared on behalf of the chief minister.