By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 1: The Government of Meghalaya on Wednesday signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink India to enhance digital connectivity across the state, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma witnessing the signing ceremony via video conference.
The agreement aims to expand connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas, and aligns with the state’s vision of achieving a $10 billion economy by 2028, with digital infrastructure identified as a key driver of inclusive growth.
The programme was attended by Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Sampath Kumar, and other senior officials.
Senior representatives from Starlink, including Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX, Lauren Dreyer, Vice President Starlink Business Operations, Prabhakar Jayakumar, Country Head, Starlink India, amongst others virtually attended the event.
Addressing the event, the Chief Minister said connectivity remains a major challenge in reaching the last mile, despite ongoing efforts to expand optical fibre networks to public health centres, schools and remote villages. He said the collaboration with Starlink is expected to help bridge this gap and accelerate access to essential services.
He stated that improved connectivity could have a direct impact on sectors such as healthcare, education and livelihoods, adding that even incremental improvements in access could lead to meaningful outcomes.
Highlighting the state’s IT vision, Sangma said Meghalaya aims to position Shillong as a hub for IT and IT-enabled services in the Northeast, with plans including data centres and expansion into emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
He stressed the need for early implementation, stating that the focus should be on taking connectivity solutions to the most remote and underserved regions at the earliest.
Speaking on the occasion, Gwynne Shotwell of SpaceX said the collaboration reflects Starlink’s mission to provide reliable, high-speed internet to underserved communities. She said the partnership would help extend connectivity to difficult terrains and improve access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities.
Additional Chief Secretary Sampath Kumar said the initiative would strengthen citizen-centric governance and improve service delivery in remote areas. He added that the collaboration is expected to support sectors such as healthcare and education by enabling better access and digital transactions.
Officials said Meghalaya’s terrain, marked by hills and scattered habitations, poses challenges for conventional infrastructure such as optical fibre and mobile towers. In this context, satellite-based internet services are expected to provide an effective alternative.
The partnership is expected to enhance service delivery across sectors including education, healthcare, disaster management, governance and rural development, while also supporting entrepreneurship, skill development and digital inclusion in the state.
